Oliver Perez Serves Up 4 Home Runs in New York Mets' Defeat To Marlins

MIAMI-- After a start in which Oliver Perez walked seven batters in 3 1/3 innings, blaming it on cold conditions, he had abolutely no excuse for this terrible outing.

Perez, who was given a vote of confidence by Jerry Manuel and was told that he was not pitching for his spot in the rotation, gave up four home runs in 3 1/3 innings as the Mets took a 7-2 loss.

It didn't start out too terribly for Perez as he struck out two in the first inning. Although he walked the first two batters to face him in the second, he bounced back with another two strike outs to escape trouble.

A scoreless game in the third is what did Perez in. He allowed a three-run home run to Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla after giving up a couple of singles, as the Marlins took a 3-0 lead. Later on in the frame, Cameron Maybin would add an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

His already bad outing took a turn for the worse in the fourth. Perez gave up home runs to both Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez to start the inning and then another to Dan Uggla two batters later. He was pulled after allowing his third home run of the inning and fourth of the game.

Meanwhile, the Mets lineup which surprisingly stayed the same, didn't produce once again. In the second, after Jason Bay led off with a single, Wright, Davis, and Francoeur all struck out successively.

In fact, Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez struck out seven Mets in his first four innings of work. They finally broke through against him in the fifth. Angel Pagan hit a two-run double to cut the Marlins lead to 7-2. Anibal Sanchez pitched seven innings after stranding Rod Barajas on second to end the seventh.

The Mets drew three walks in the final two innings but never scored as they lost 7-2. They did get good bullpen work out of Raul Valdes who went 2 1/3 innings relieving Perez, striking out four.

Now the Mets will have to evaluate what to do with Oliver Perez who over his last two starts has only threw 6 2/3 innings, walking 10 and allowing four home runs.

The Mets are in danger of losing another road series, unless they can win their next two games, as they now fall to an even 18-18 on the season and 4-10 on the road. The Mets have now lost 9 of 13 after winning eight straight games.

Series probable pitchers:
May 15
New York: John Maine (2010: 1-2, 5.45 ERA) vs. Florida: Nate Robertson (2010: 3-3, 4.54 ERA)
May 16
New York: Jon Niese (2010: 1-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Florida: Ricky Nolasco (2010: 3-2, 3.66 ERA)

Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 15-16 @ Florida Marlins
May 17-18 @ Atlanta Braves

Florida Marlins:
May 15-16 vs. New York Mets
May 17-18 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks