New York @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2011 ) NY Mets 5, Florida 8

THE STORY: The Florida Marlins finally have the first win of their current homestand, and now they will try to wrap up the six-game stretch with a series victory when they conclude a three-game set with the New York Mets on Sunday. Their chances are solid with Anibal Sanchez on the mound, but the Mets will counter with a strong pitcher of their own in Dillon Gee.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FS Florida

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (9-3, 3.67 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (6-3, 3.52).

After beginning the month by losing consecutive starts for the first time this season, Gee bounced back Tuesday when he allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings in a 4-2 win over St. Louis. Gee has never appeared against the Marlins, and the only player on Florida's roster he has faced is Omar Infante, who is 0-for-4 against him. Sanchez has hit a strange patch, going winless since June 10 despite quality starts in five of his seven outings since. He allowed two runs over six innings Tuesday against the Padres, but took the loss as the Marlins were shut out 4-0. In nine starts against the Mets, Sanchez is 4-4 with a 4.53 ERA. He went 2-1 in three starts against them last season.

ABOUT THE METS (50-50): New York has benefited from the return of David Wright's bat - he has four RBIs in his first two games since coming off the disabled list, but the third baseman also has made a throwing error in each of the two games. Jose Reyes went 3-for-5 on Saturday to raise his major league-leading batting average to .352, but he hasn't fared well against Sanchez. He is 4-for-21 (.190) against him. Jason Bay returned to the lineup after missing two games with a tight right hamstring - he went 0-for-4 hitting in the No. 7 spot for the first time this season.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (48-53): Florida's offense has come back to life the past two nights after being shut down in a three-game sweep at the hands of San Diego. After hitting only one home run in their previous four games, the Marlins have hit five in the past two nights - three of them by Gaby Sanchez, who went deep twice Saturday. Leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-4 on Saturday to extend his career-best hitting streak to 22 games, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest by a Marlins player since Jorge Cantu hit in 21 straight games from Sept. 29, 2009, to April 24, 2010.

FINAL PITCH: The Marlins had not held a lead during the homestand that began Tuesday until the first of Sanchez's home runs put them ahead in the sixth inning Saturday.