New York @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2011 ) NY Mets 7, Florida 4

THE STORY: The New York Mets had to put in some extra work to even their three-game series with the Florida Marlins on Tuesday. But beating the Marlins has come easily this season for Wednesday's starter, R.A. Dickey, as the visiting Mets will try to win their third consecutive series. The Mets scored three runs in the 12th to win 7-4 on Tuesday after Florida won the series opener 9-3 on Monday. Florida leads the season series 9-8 going into Wednesday's final meeting of the season.

TV: 5:10 p.m. ET, SNY, FS Florida

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH R.A. Dickey (7-11, 3.60 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Brad Hand (1-5, 4.23).

Dickey has won his last two starts and has posted quality starts in his last eight outings. He threw seven scoreless innings to beat the Marlins on Aug. 29 in New York, then followed it up by holding Washington to three runs over six innings to win on short rest Friday. Dickey is 4-2 with a 4.62 ERA in eight games (six starts) against Florida. He has won both starts against the Marlins this season, and he hasn't allowed an earned run in 13 innings over those two games. Hand is in his fourth stint in the majors this season, and he is winless in four major-league starts since July 7. That stretch includes an outing against the Mets on Aug. 2 in New York in which he allowed two runs over five innings, but didn't get a decision in Florida's 4-3 victory. On Friday, Hand made his first major league start since Aug. 8, allowing four runs over five innings in a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia.

ABOUT THE METS (69-71): The Mets have won nine of 12 and are back within two games of .500. Nick Evans was the hitting hero Tuesday, delivering three tie-breaking singles before the bullpen finally made one stand up. Evans was one of four players with three hits Tuesday, along with Justin Turner, Angel Pagan and Jose Reyes. David Wright, meanwhile, was 0-for-6 to snap his nine-game hitting streak.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (63-78): Florida had its three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday, but not without a fight. Mike Cameron's two-out, two-run double off the left-field wall in the ninth forced extra innings, but the Marlins dropped to 7-12 in extra-inning games. Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to nine games. As expected, shortstop Hanley Ramirez will have season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. Dr. James Andrews is scheduled to perform the surgery Sept. 15. Ramirez has not played since Aug. 2.

FINAL PITCH: Reyes went 3-for-6 Tuesday to raise his average to .334 and move one point ahead of Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in the National League batting race.