New York @ Miami preview
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Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) NY Mets 5, Miami 3
The New York Mets haven't brought their brooms to South Beach in over five years, but they may have a chance to use them on Sunday. After Kelly Shoppach's two-out, two-run single capped a four-run uprising in the ninth inning in Saturday's 5-3 victory, New York will vie for its seventh win in eight outings when it plays the Miami Marlins in the series finale. The Mets last won a three-game series against the host Marlins from May 25-27, 2007.
Carlos Lee collected three hits - including an RBI single - but the Marlins were unable to hold a two-run lead in the ninth and dropped their third straight and sixth in eight outings. Lee, who entered the contest with just four hits in his previous 36 at-bats, is 3-for-8 in his career versus Sunday starter Chris Young.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSFL (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Chris Young (3-7, 4.64 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Mark Buehrle (12-11, 3.62)
Young will vie for his first win in a month when he takes the mound on Sunday. The 6-foot-10 hurler permitted five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start, but walked away with a no-decision against Philadelphia on Tuesday. Young was shelled for seven runs on as many hits in 4 1/3 innings in an eventual 13-0 loss to Miami on Aug. 8. He has allowed 11 homers since July 4.
Buehrle posted his third straight victory after yielding one run in 5 2/3 innings en route to a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday. The 33-year-old picked up a no-decision and a loss in two starts versus the Mets this season. Buehrle allowed two runs in both outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Shoppach has flourished since being acquired from Boston last month. Shoppach, who is batting .346 with two homers and seven RBIs in nine games, has also fared well versus Buehrle - going 8-for-18 with four homers.
2. While Shoppach has been scorching hot, fellow Mets catcher Josh Thole has been floundering. Thole did receive a positive in the eighth inning after snapping an 0-for-30 stretch with a single.
3. Jose Reyes, who is 10-for-40 against his former team, is just 2-for-14 versus Young.