upset 14th-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (5),

MIAMI -- The New York Mets won the NL East last season, finishing 19 games ahead of the third-place Miami Marlins.This year, the Marlins have made up that gap -- all of it -- and lead the Mets in the race for the second and final wild-card spot by 1 1/2 games.The Mets, who made the World Series last year, are in danger of not even making the playoffs this season, thanks, in part, to the improvement by the Marlins.Starting Friday night, the Marlins (52-43) will host the Mets (50-44) in a key three-game series.(The Marlins are) playing very, very well, Mets manager Terry Collins told the New York media this week. Weve got to win two (of three). Weve got to make up ground. Its going to be a big weekend.The highlight of the series will come on Saturday night, when Miamis Jose Fernandez (11-4, 2.53 ERA) will face New Yorks Jacob deGrom (6-4, 2.38).Fernandez is 25-1 with a 1.43 ERA in his career at Marlins Park. In six career starts against the Mets, home or away, Fernandez is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA.Hes almost unbeatable at home, Collins said. Thats no fun (for opponents).Fridays opener will feature Miami left-hander Adam Conley (6-5, 3.61) against Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.21).On Sunday, New York will start the left-hander when it sends Steven Matz (7-6, 3.56) against Miamis Jose Urena (1-1, 6.23).Given the pitching matchups and how New Yorks offense has struggled lately, especially with runners on base, the Mets may be battling just to avoid a sweep by Sunday.Still, as bad as things seem for New York at the moment, Mets fans can take solace in the fact that their team looked similarly lifeless at this point last season. Then they made one major trade, getting slugger Yoenis Cespedes, and added several smaller pieces such as reliever Tyler Clippard and veteran hitters off the bench such as Kelly Johnson and Jose Uribe.The moves worked, and the Mets overtook the front-running Washington Nationals.This year, the Nationals -- backed by former Mets standout Daniel Murphy -- are in front again. But now the Nationals have two serious challengers in the division -- the Marlins and Mets -- instead of just one.With this years non-waiver trade deadline looming at midnight on July 31, the Marlins and Mets are hoping to be active as buyers. The Marlins are looking for one of two starting pitchers, while the Mets could use more offense in addition to pitching depth.The Marlins offense figures to get a boost on July 28 when second baseman Dee Gordon returns from an 80-game suspension after it was ruled that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.Marlins manager Don Mattingly has said Gordon would be slowly eased back into his former role as a starter.Gordon, who won an NL batting title and led the league in steals last year, is the only true speed threat on the team and also plays excellent defense. He figures to be the every-day starter before too long, assuming he retains his previous form.That would displace Derek Dietrich, who has done an excellent job filling in at second. The Marlins could look into trading third baseman Martin Prado and replacing him with Dietrich. After all, Prado is a free agent after this season, doesnt provide much power and will turn 33 in October.But Prado is a team leader, and the Marlins are reluctant to trade him now that they smell playoffs.Power-hitting first baseman Justin Bour is also set to return soon from an ankle injury, further complicating Mattinglys decisions on playing time.In addition to the pennant race and the imminent return of Gordon and Bour, the other major story is Ichiro Suzukis chase to become the 30th major-leaguer to reach 3,000 hits. He would tie Roberto Clemente on the hit list once he reaches the milestone.Suzuki needs four more hits to get there, and the Marlins are hoping it happens during this 10-game homestand.Either way, Suzuki is immensely popular in Japan, Seattle and pretty much anywhere there are baseball fans. Its hard not to root for the 42-year-old star, who has contributed in outstanding fashion this season as Miamis fourth outfielder.Meanwhile, the Mets are awaiting the return of first baseman Lucas Duda (back) and starting pitcher Zach Wheeler (elbow surgery) -- two players they hope to get off the disabled list next month.On Wednesday, Duda swung a bat and took grounders for the first time since landing on the DL in May. Wheeler, meanwhile, is set to throw a bullpen session in front of Mets coaches on Friday in Miami.In other story lines regarding the series:The Marlins tied a season best on Thursday night by going nine games over .500. Before this year, the last time they were nine games over was in 2011. The last time they were nine games over in the second half of a season was in 2009.Marlins closer A.J. Ramos has 31 saves. With one more save, he ties his career high, which was set last year.Mets closer Jeurys Familia has saved 49 consecutive chances, the longest active streak in the majors and fourth-longest in baseball history. Eric Gagne has the record with 84, followed by Tom Gordon (54) and Jose Valverde (51).The Marlins are 11-5 in July and have not lost consecutive games this month.Mets infielder Wilmer Flores already has seven homers this month. Cheap Air Max 97 Uk . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. Authentic Air Max 90 . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Air Max Wholesale Uk . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Fake Air Max 97 Uk . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. HAMBURG, Germany -- Top-seeded Roger Federer was taken to the limit on Friday before coming through for a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-5 victory over Florian Mayer and a place in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships. Federer is playing his first tournament since losing in the second round of Wimbledon. A four-time champion on the clay courts of Hamburg, Federer needed two hours to overcome Mayer. Federer was down 5-1 in the second set, won the next two games but then faltered again. He double-faulted and then produced two straight forehand errors to give up the set. In the third, Federer broke serve twice, only to see the German re-break both times. But with the match on the line, the Swiss former No. 1 raised his game considerably. He broke serve with the loss of a point for a 6-5 lead and served out the match at love, hitting a service winner on match point. He next plays Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, who upset 14th-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 6-4 to make the semifinals of a tournnament for the second time in his career.dddddddddddd. Fabio Fognini of Italy beat Tommy Haas for the second time in two weeks to also advance to the semifinals. Fognini prevailed 6-2, 6-4 over the second-seeded home favourite. The 12th-seeded Italian is looking for his second straight title after winning his first tournament in Stuttgart, where he beat Haas in the quarterfinals. Fognini next faces third-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain, who came from behind to beat defending champion Juan Monaco of Argentina 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. The fifth-seeded Monaco beat Almagro in the Hamburg semifinals last year. Almagro was runner-up in Hamburg two years ago, while Monaco beat Haas for the title last year. Delbonis previous semifinal appearance was two years ago, also on clay and also in Germany, in Stuttgart. After fending off a pair of match points in the second set, Delbonis failed to serve out the match at 5-3. He then wasted two match points on Verdascos serve before the Spaniard double-faulted on the third. ' ' '