Mets take first series from Marlins

MIAMI -- The Mets wrapped up the first stop on their 2011 "Us Against the World" tour in statement fashion.

Disrespected by the prognosticators and ridiculed by most everyone outside their fan base, the Mets made sure of one thing before leaving Sun Life Stadium at the conclusion of opening weekend: The Marlins would be looking up at them in the standings.

Willie Harris and Ike Davis homered to help knock out Florida starter Javier Vazquez before the end of the third inning. Mix in the usual knuckleball voodoo from R.A. Dickey, who allowed just an unearned run in six innings, and the Mets cruised to a 9-2 victory.

"We talked about it the other day, this 'us against the world' stuff. That's great as a team phrase kind of thing," manager Terry Collins said before the game. "But you've got to believe you can go out and play."

After Josh Johnson humbled them Friday on Opening Night, the Mets rebounded to win two straight, and they did it Sunday with Carlos Beltran resting his knees on the bench.

Just like that, the Mets pocketed a road series victory, something they failed to do last season until June 11-13 with a sweep of the Orioles in Baltimore. They won only five road series last year and had a .395 winning percentage (32-49) away from Citi Field.

"I think it's very important psychologically, if for no other reason," Dickey said. "Once you have that identity, you can really roll with that. If we can get out of the gates here, then psychologically, we'll know we're a good team no matter where we are."

Harris, again batting in the No. 2 spot, swatted a two-run homer in the first inning after Jose Reyes led off with a double. Daniel Murphy made his debut at second base, played flawless defense and added an RBI double.

Davis continued his torrid pace with two more hits in his first two at-bats, including a solo homer that started a four-run rally in the third. Davis got the green light on a 3-and-0 count and didn't waste the opportunity to thump Vazquez as the Mets jumped ahead 7-0.

"It's hard to score a lot of runs against Dickey," Davis said. "If you put seven on the board, you're going to get a lot of wins with Dickey on the mound."

It's only three games. But heading into this week's grudge match with the Phillies -- which begins Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park -- the Mets have displayed solid starting pitching and some offensive pop in their first two victories.

"I don't think there was anything surprising," David Wright said, "or anything we didn't expect."

Aside from Francisco Rodriguez's Saturday night meltdown, the early returns have been encouraging. Dickey made the Mets feel good about their two-year, $7.8-million investment in him by holding Florida to five hits and striking out seven in six innings. The unearned run came in the third after a walk to Scott Cousins, who advanced on a passed ball and a wild pitch before scoring on Omar Infante's sacrifice fly.

The Marlins were far more generous with their spotty fielding in handing the Mets five unearned runs on errors by Hanley Ramirez, Emilio Bonifacio and reliever Randy Choate.

But what began as a relaxing afternoon for the Mets did get a little tense in the seventh when Chris Capuano -- making his Mets debut out of the bullpen -- surrendered a run and loaded the bases with two outs. With the Mets up 7-2, Collins called on D.J. Carrasco for the first time this season.

Carrasco went to a full count against John Buck before getting him to swing and miss on an 88-mph fastball

"Hopefully, this is what this team is going to be made of," Collins said. "That they can rally back and hang on."