On the Mets beat

Mets (60-54) vs. Marlins (61-54)

Oliver Perez (7-7, 4.12) vs. Ricky Nolasco (11-6 3.19)

The Mets enter the weekend just two games out in the NL East and a half a game back of the second-place Marlins even with the bullpen and line up struggling.

Oliver Perez takes the ball in place of John Maine off a 77 pitch outing against the Astros. Perez will have to be much better tonight, with the Mets bullpen is disarray, if the Mets are going to jump of the Marlins into second place. He has beaten the Marlins twice in three starts this season. He has a 2-2 record, but the Mets' record is 5-2, in his seven most recent starts. His ERA in that period is 1.97.

Ricky Nolasco went eight in a win against the Rockies on Saturday. He gave up three runs on four hits, struck out a career-high 13 batters and walking none. He finished retiring the last seven hitters in order and threw 93 pitches. It was his first win in five starts.

Joseph Staszewski will take you through all of tonight's action.

METS 3, MARLINS 0

Top of the Ninth: Heilman retires the Marlins in order.

Bottom of the Eighth: Mets go 1-2-3

Top of the Eighth: Aaron Heilman relieves Perez and pitches a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom of the Seventh: Pinto replaced Nolasco with runners on first and second and two outs. He loads the bases with a walk to Murphy, but Wright grounds out to end it.

Top of the Seventh: Perez stays on and gives up just a double to Cody Ross

Bottom of the Sixth: Mets get runners on first and second with two outs, but Tatis grounds out hard to third.

Top of the Sixth: Perez walks Ramirez to lead off the inning, but gets the next three batters.

Bottom of the Fifth: Mets get just a single by Schneider.

Top of the Fifth: Perez strikes out the side and has retired 11 in a row.

Bottom of the Fourth: Carlos Delgado homers just over the wall in left center. METS 3, MARLINS 0

Top of the Fourth: Marlins are retired in order.

Bottom of the Third: Perez reaches base on a Hanley Ramirez error, but the Mets get nothing else.

Top of the Third: Marlins go 1-2-3.

Bottom of the Second: Mets go in order.

Top of the Second: The Marlins get the bases loaded with one out. Perez gets the next two outs, but uses 34 pitches in the inning.

Bottom of the First: Wright its a long two-run homer into the back of the bleachers in left. METS 2, MARLINS 0

Top of the First: Marlins go in order on three fly out to the outfield.