MIAMI(AP) -- Cory Sullivan got a little satisfaction out of his
clutch hit Friday night, even though he wasn't around when the
New York Mets' postseason hopes were dashed by the Florida
Marlins in each of the previous two seasons.

Sullivan delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth
inning and New York beat Florida 6-5 to hurt the Marlins'
playoff hopes.

"Knowing that the Marlins have knocked out the Mets out of the
race the last two years it's an extra benefit," Sullivan said.

Florida fell five games behind the NL wild card-leading Rockies,
who beat St. Louis 2-1 at Coors Field.

"The hill gets a little steeper but we have a team that is
resilient," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We are in a situation
that we have to win every game and get help."

Closer Leo Nunez (4-6) yielded singles to Daniel Murphy and Jeff
Francoeur before pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed walked to load the
bases with no outs. Sullivan then drilled Nunez's 0-1 pitch into
left field, scoring Murphy and Francoeur.

"I was fortunate to get a pitch all over the plate," Sullivan
said. "I was trying to get at least a sac fly and drive in the
run to tie the game. I was fortunate to find some grass in the
outfield."

Nunez, who has seven blown saves in 31 opportunities, didn't
allow another run but the damage was done.

"I left my changeup a bit high today," Nunez said. "It was a bad
night. Unfortunately, these things happen.

"I just have to forget about this. Tomorrow will be a new day."

Bobby Parnell (4-8) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and
Francisco Rodriguez worked around pinch-hitter Ross Gload's
one-out single for his 34th save in 40 opportunities.

"We needed a win like that regardless of the role we're
playing," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We needed to continue
to show the effort and every now and then you'll get a big hit.

"It worked out well for us."

Jorge Cantu hit a two-out, two-run double in the seventh to give
Florida a 5-3 lead. With first base open, Sean Green
intentionally walked Hanley Ramirez to face Cantu.

New York pulled within one in the eighth when Brian Schneider
scored on a passed ball. David Wright struck out swinging
against Brendan Donnelly but the pitch got away from Ronny
Paulino, allowing Schneider to come home.

Wright, who never ran to first on the miss, argued with plate
umpire Bill Hohn that it was a foul ball.

Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer off Ricky Nolasco to give
New York a 3-0 lead in the second but Ramirez tied it with a
three-run drive of his own off Tim Redding in the fifth.

It was Ramirez's 24th of the season and No. 13 for Francoeur.

Redding allowed four runs and six hits in six-plus innings.
Nolasco pitched seven innings, yielding three runs and four
hits.

NOTES: Wright appeared in his 836th game at third base, breaking
the Mets' career record he shared with Howard Johnson. ... Mets
2B Luis Castillo's fielding miscue in the seventh snapped a
34-game errorless streak. ... Gonzalez said RHP Chris Volstad
will remain in the bullpen the rest of the season. Volstad was
part of the Marlins' rotation most of the season until a rough
stretch in August, when he failed to get past the fifth inning
in five consecutive starts ... Friday's attendance of 39,031 was
Florida's third highest of the season.