By HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Nick Johnson has hobbled through some pretty good
at-bats since returning from the disabled list, and his
teammates have noticed his effort.

Johnson had a pair of two-run singles Thursday night and the
Florida Marlins beat the listless New York Mets 13-4 to gain
ground on the NL East-leading Phillies.

"That just tells you what kind of gamer he is," Dan Uggla said.
"He's just a clutch hitter."

Since returning from a right hamstring strain on Sept. 3,
Johnson has at least one hit in each of his six games and has
driven in nine runs despite noticeably struggling on the bases.

"It's been a while for me but this is what it's all about,"
Johnson said about being in a playoff race. "I'm not pushing it.
Even though I'm feeling better out there I'm just trying to keep
the speed and go from first to third at that speed, do the
treatment and try to stay out there."

Hanley Ramirez and Cody Ross each had three hits and two RBIs
for the Marlins, who completed their first sweep of the Mets
since taking four straight Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2004, in New York.
Uggla hit his 27th homer in the third inning.

Florida has enjoyed its September trips to New York the last
couple years. Spoilers in 2007 and '08, the Marlins twice dashed
the Mets' playoff hopes on the last day with victories. This
year they came to the Big Apple with postseason aspirations of
their own.

The Marlins wrapped up a 5-1 trip and moved within five games of
Philadelphia, which lost 8-7 at Washington. They also remained 5
1/2 back of the wild card-leading Rockies with 22 games
remaining, including six against the Phillies.

"It's a fun part of the year if you're doing it," Marlins
manager Fredi Gonzalez said of scoreboard watching.

Johnson delivered in the seventh and eighth as the Marlins
missed their season high for runs by one and amassed 16 hits.

The Mets (62-78) fell 16 games under .500 for the first time
since finishing 71-91 in 2004.

Playing in front of a Citi Field crowd that was about half the
announced attendance of 37,620, the Mets showed why they've come
apart this season.

Bobby Parnell walked consecutive batters with the bases loaded
after an error by shortstop Anderson Hernandez and Angel Pagan
forgot how many outs there were while running the bases. Luis
Castillo had another adventure at second base and New York
pitchers didn't have a 1-2-3 inning until the ninth.

The Mets held a 30-minute meeting following batting practice
then fell behind quickly. The Marlins led 3-0 by the time the
19-minute, 40-pitch first inning was over.

"Every time I have a meeting we seem to play that way so I guess
we won't have anymore meetings," manager Jerry Manuel said.

Chris Coghlan hustled for a leadoff double when left fielder
Nick Evans and center fielder Pagan were slow to get to his soft
liner in the gap. Parnell (3-8) walked Johnson and Ramirez
reached on Hernandez's error to load the bases. Parnell then
walked two batters for a 2-0 lead.

The Mets lead the majors with 19 bases-loaded walks - three by
Parnell - two more than Texas. They've also hit two batters with
the bases loaded, according to STATS LLC.

"I haven't been as consistent as I wanted to be," said Parnell,
who walked five. "To come out in the first inning and not throw
strikes is aggravating."

Ross added an RBI single for a 3-0 lead on a fly to shallow
center that appeared to be catchable. He also had an RBI double
in the fifth.

Rookie left-hander Sean West, who hit a ground-rule double into
the New York bullpen in right-center and scored on Ramirez's
single in the fourth, scuffled in the bottom half, giving up two
runs. He was pulled two batters into the fifth, allowing four
runs and six hits. Burke Badenhop (7-4) pitched two innings.

"One of these days, I'll stick around for seven (innings)," West
said. "It's all about the Ws. I'm not worried about my
performance."

Pagan turned a routine flyout into an inning-ending double play
in the seventh. Castillo spun around aimlessly looking for a
ball at his feet after diving for Uggla's grounder in the
eighth, aiding a three-run inning.

NOTES: Each team struck out 10 times. ... Mets RHP John Maine
(sore shoulder) will make his first start since June 6 on Sunday
in a doubleheader opener at Philadelphia. ... Marlins RHP Rick
VandenHurk had his normal bullpen session after leaving
Tuesday's start with a sore back muscle. He hopes to make his
start Sunday against Washington.