The Marlins (61-56) started their key six-game road trip by taking two out of three from division-leading Philadelphia last week, also helping the Mets move closer to the Phillies.

But their trip has taken a sour turn in Queens as they have fallen out of second place. After getting shut out for the second time in three games in a 3-0 loss on Friday, Florida managed to generate some offense Saturday, but allowed three home runs in an 8-6 defeat.

"We swung the bats today," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's a good sign."

New York hasn't swept the Marlins in three or more games at home since taking three in a row in June of 2000, the same year the Mets last won the NL pennant.

The Mets (62-54) have been impressive at Shea recently, winning 15 of their last 18 there to claim the second-best home record in the NL at 36-21. They trail Philadelphia by one game in the NL East, with Florida sitting 2 1/2 games back of the Phillies.

"We are looking forward to beating teams that are in our division," Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran told his team's official Web site. "The Marlins are playing great. With the team they have, to be in a position that they are, they play hard, they come back, they don't quit."

Florida erased an early four-run deficit on Saturday, but still lost as New York's Carlos Delgado homered for the second straight game while rookie Daniel Murphy continued his tear with his first major league homer. In seven games with the Mets, Murphy is 10-for-20 with five RBIs.

"Any time you get young players, they bring enthusiasm, energy, a kind of wide-eyed look - like Christmas," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "... It's good that he's off to a good start, had some success."

The Marlins are hoping their road trip ends the way it began - with a victory by Josh Johnson. The big right-hander beat the Phillies on Tuesday, throwing six shutout innings in an 8-2 victory.

Florida has won all five of Johnson's starts since he was activated from the disabled list. Johnson (2-0, 3.34 ERA) has won his last two starts individually, also beating the Mets after giving up four runs in 6 2-3 innings in the Marlins' 7-5 win on July 30.

He outlasted fellow 6-foot-7 right-hander Mike Pelfrey (10-7, 3.85) in that game, handing Pelfrey his only loss in his last 10 starts.

Pelfrey is 8-1 with a 3.41 ERA over that span, but he allowed five runs in four innings at Dolphin Stadium last month. He's dropped his last three starts against the Marlins, pitching only 14 1-3 innings in those games and compiling a 7.53 ERA.

Johnson, meanwhile, has never lost to the Mets, going 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in four career starts.

The Mets lead the season series against Florida 7-4, with six more meetings scheduled after Sunday. Florida returns to Shea to play the final regular season games there from Sept. 26-28.