Right off the DL, Niese holds down Marlins for seven to get win

Caught somewhat off guard, Jonathon Niese chuckled at the inquiry.

"I can't be surprised,'' he said, "because that's what I go out there to do."

Strangely enough, in the midst of a revolving door of disabled list decisions and the latest installment in the Oliver Perez saga, it was Niese - fresh off the disabled list - who provided the stability the Mets needed.

The young lefthander, who was activated from the 15-day DL before Saturday's game, gave up one run and six hits, struck out six and walked one in seven innings as the Mets defeated the Marlins, 6-1, in front of 37,165 at Citi Field.

It was the seventh straight home win and 17th in 21 games for the Mets, who improved to 29-27. It also was the first time the Mets won back-to-back games against the Marlins since Aug. 8-9, 2008, at Shea Stadium.

Ike Davis snapped an 0-for-9 skid by going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, and David Wright (three RBIs) drilled a two-run home run in the third inning - his 10th homer of the season and first at Citi Field since Opening Day - to give the Mets some breathing room.

But it was Niese (2-2, 4.28 ERA) who kept the game out of reach for Florida. He threw 90 pitches (63 for strikes) and tied his season high with seven innings pitched in his first start since straining his right hamstring May 16 while fielding a bunt in the third inning of a 10-8 loss to the Marlins.

He had surgery to repair a tear in the same hamstring last Aug. 6 and missed the final two months of the season.

Niese had posted a 5.63 ERA in two losing efforts against Florida, but he was dominant Saturday. He cruised through the first six innings with an array of pitches, none more important than his curveball.

"In the past, he's waited to use that pitch and today, he started out with it, continued to use it and continued to throw it for strikes,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. "It was a very impressive outing for him."

Niese worked himself into trouble in the seventh, however, as Dan Uggla doubled to left, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on Ronny Paulino's single to centerfield. But Niese ended the threat by striking out Cameron Maybin and getting pinch hitter Wes Helms to ground out.

"There were just a couple pitches where I didn't execute and I got hit," Niese said. "Uggla - that ball was supposed to be up and it was down, and Paulino was supposed to be out and it was in. Fatigue wasn't a factor."

Niese said he wasn't worried about his right leg when he took the mound.

"As long as I didn't have any pain, it wasn't going to be an issue," he said. "I didn't even want to be on the DL at first, but I knew it was the best for the team and I did my time, got a rehab start and everything felt good and I'm back and everything feels great."

Davis, who improved his average to .268, doubled to centerfield to lead off the second and scored on a single by Jeff Francoeur (2-for-4), who extended his hitting streak to nine games dating to May 27. Ruben Tejada then doubled for his second major-league RBI to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

The Mets made it 5-0 in the third on Davis' RBI single and Wright's two-run homer to left. Wright singled home the final run in the sixth inning.