NEW YORK (AP) -- Once Dontrelle Willis departed, the New York

Mets felt much better about their chances.

David Wright hit a tying triple in the seventh inning and a

sacrifice fly in the ninth, driving in all of New York's runs and

giving the Mets a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Florida Marlins after

Tom Glavine and Willis went head-to-head in a marquee pitching

matchup.

"It was a classic duel," New York manager Willie Randolph

said.

Wright's two-run triple off Willis tied the score at 2, and New

York got hitless relief work from Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner

(1-0).

Josh Willingham had a two-run double for the Marlins in the

sixth, putting Willis in position to improve his 8-1 record against

the Mets. Let down a bit by his defense, he went eight innings but

couldn't hold the lead.

"He's got so much movement on his ball. He throws so hard. You

just try to grind it out and hope for some breaks," Wright said.

The Mets took both games in a series shortened by Saturday's

rainout and moved to 4-1 for the first time since 1998. New York

opened 0-5 last year.

"It's a complete reversal," Glavine said. "It's certainly

something we want to continue to do, but we have had some problems

last year winning on the road, and that's something we have to do

something about."

Both starters kissed the corners with precision, as the

40-year-old Glavine matched the 24-year-old Willis pitch for pitch.

"I respect what he does. He definitely paved the way for us

left-handers, especially the way he pitches," Willis said.

With the score tied in the ninth, Carlos Beltran drew a leadoff

walk from Carlos Martinez (0-1) and went to third on Carlos

Delgado's single to right field.

Wright followed with a sacrifice fly to medium right, giving him

nine RBI. Beltran scored easily, sending the sellout crowd of

55,255 home happy.

Wagner threw a scoreless ninth for his first win with the Mets.

Glavine didn't give up a hit until Willingham's bloop single

with two outs in the fourth. Willingham was thrown out on the play

in a rundown between first and second.

Florida put runners at the corners with none out in the fifth,

but Glavine induced consecutive popups and then fanned Willis to

end the threat.

A 22-game winner last year and the runner-up for the NL Cy Young

Award, Willis yielded seven hits. He struck out four and did not

walk a batter for the young Marlins, who dropped to 1-4.

"After he went out of the ballgame, we knew we were going to

have our chances to score some runs," Beltran said. "And as it

turned out, that's exactly what happened."

Glavine allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, striking

out five and walking two.

Hanley Ramirez led off the sixth with a double and advanced on

Jeremy Hermida's sacrifice. After Miguel Cabrera was intentionally

walked, Willingham doubled over Beltran in center for a 2-0 lead --

the first runs the Marlins scored for Willis in two starts this

season.

He pitched five shutout innings of one-hit ball on opening day

in Houston and did not get a decision in a 1-0 loss. Then he had

another strong performance Sunday.

"We lost. It don't matter," Willis said.

The lefty retired 11 straight before Paul Lo Duca and Beltran

opened the seventh with singles, and the Mets quickly took

advantage of some shaky Florida defense.

Second baseman Dan Uggla bobbled Delgado's groundout, costing

him a chance at a double play. Hermida then misplayed Wright's

sinking liner to right into a two-run triple.

"It was one of those in-betweens," Hermida said. "Slicing,

sinking at the end."

Willis escaped further damage when Uggla made a terrific,

backhand play on Victor Diaz's grounder, preventing the go-ahead

run from scoring.Game notes
Willis has a 1.88 ERA in 12 career starts against the Mets.

... New York SS Jose Reyes made an error in the eighth and another

in the ninth. ... Willis is 8-0 with a 1.82 ERA and three complete

games in 12 April starts since coming up to the majors in 2003. He

is the only pitcher since 1960 with at least 10 starts in April to

be undefeated in the month. ... Marlins CF Reggie Abercrombie

fouled off a suicide squeeze attempt in the fifth, then popped out.

... Glavine is 15-18 in 41 starts against Florida. He has not

beaten the Marlins since April 20, 2003.