Mets  3    Marlins  5

Recap: Florida vs. NY Mets

Sports Network | August 27, 2009

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Josh Johnson threw six solid innings to remain unbeaten in his career against the Mets, as Florida earned a 5-3 triumph in the second test of a three-game series.

Ronny Paulino hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning. Cody Ross added a two-run triple and Jorge Cantu knocked in a run for Florida, which has won three of its last five games. The Marlins are seven games behind first- place Philadelphia in the NL East.

Johnson (13-3) allowed three runs on nine hits, struck out seven without issuing a walk. He moved to 7-0 lifetime against New York and has won six of his last seven decisions overall.

"It's huge, we want to win every game, that's pretty much our mind set from here on out," said Johnson. "With all the other teams playing so well it's tough to gain ground. You pretty much have to win every game."

Fernando Tatis had three hits with an RBI and a run scored for the Mets, who have dropped five in a row. Anderson Hernandez finished two hits and an RBI, while Cory Sullivan added a sacrifice fly for New York.

Mike Pelfrey (9-9) took the loss for giving up 11 hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings. He also walked five and struck out two.

"You talk about command being the name of the game and it was terrible tonight," said Pelfrey. "I walked too many guys, got behind too many guys. I was lucky that I only gave up five."

The Mets grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the second. Sullivan started the inning with a lead off single and crossed the plate on Tatis' double. Then, two batters later, Hernandez's single brought in another run.

Ross' two-run triple down the right-field line in the third allowed Florida to draw even. The Marlins were bidding for more later in the inning, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Johnson bounced out to second to end the threat.

Florida surged in front in the fifth after Jeremy Hermida singled with two outs and Paulino followed with a towering two-run shot to left.

The Mets made it a 4-3 game in the top of the sixth on Sullivan's sacrifice fly, which plated Daniel Murphy. However, Cantu's fielder's choice grounder was good enough bring in a run in the home portion. Chris Coghlan, who tripled to begin the inning, scored.

Dan Meyer and Matt Lindstrom pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, respectively, for the Marlins and Leo Nunez finished off the game in the ninth. He retired the first two hitters, before giving up a single to Hernandez. The Marlins closer than struck out pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed looking to end the game and earn his 16th save of the season.

Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield missed the game with a back issue and is listed as day-to-day...New York also announced that left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with patella tendon tendinosis in his right knee and will require season-ending surgery. The club recalled pitcher Lance Broadway from Triple-A Buffalo to fill out the roster...The Marlins have won seven of 11 versus the Mets this year and took two of three when the clubs met in Miami from April 10-12.