Stanton 3-Run Homer Helps Marlins Beat Mets 10-7

Pinch-hitter Reed Johnson led off the fourth with a home run against Mets starter John Lannan.

"He looks great and confident and is feeling good," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "His at-bats have been great and this is, hopefully, a sign of big things to come for the season."

STARTING TIME:

Mets: Lannan gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings.

"I just had a bad day and I couldn't find the strike zone," Lannan said. "I kept missing the plate: curve ball, slider, everything was falling off."

Marlins: Henderson Alvarez, making his third start of spring training, struck out five in four innings, allowing one run, three hits and two walks.

"I attacked the zone and the hitters," Alvarez said through an interpreter. "I tried to throw all my pitches for strikes."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Left-hander Jonathon Niese received a cortisone injection in the back of his left elbow Monday and s cleared to resume throwing later this week.

Niese underwent a MRI and an examination by team physician Dr. David Altchek in New York, and the Mets said the left-hander does not have ligament damage. After consulting pitching coach Dan Warthen, the Mets said Niese will wait 48-to-72 hours before he resumes throwing.

Marlins: Rafael Furcal, who played in Friday's game against the Mets, and Ed Lucas are still dealing with hamstring problems. Greg Dobbs is benched with a leg injury.

TRANSACTIONS:

The Marlins optioned right-hander Sam Dyson, left-hander Brian Flynn and catcher Rob Brantly to Triple -A New Orleans; optioned left-hander Edgar Olmos to Double A Jacksonville and reassigned 13 players to minor league camp: left-handers Adam Conley, Andrew Heaney, James Leverton, Greg Nappo and Josh Spence; right-handers Bryan Evans, Rett Varner and Nick Wittgren; catcher Austin Barnes; infielders Danny Black, Mark Canha and Colin Moran; and outfielder Joe Benson.

SOME NO-HIT BUZZ:

The Marlins still were talking about their four-pitcher no-hitter against the New York Yankees during a split-squad game in Panama City on Saturday. Starter Brad Hand pitched five innings, and Steve Cishek, A.J. Ramos and Arquimedes Caminero followed.

"Some guys had no idea that there was no-hitter going on," said Hand, noting the scoreboard only showed the runs. "I knew I didn't give up a hit. I don't even think Caminero knew that a no-hitter was going on when he was pitching the ninth."

Noted for his control, Hand is not guaranteed the fifth spot in the rotation. Incumbent Tom Koehler is projected as the probable fifth starter.

"It's obviously a confident booster but I'm coming out here and trying to pitch so I'll win a spot," Hand said.

Redmond said Hand was impressive to watch as he handled the Yankees and a pro-Yankees crowd of 27,000.

"He was great, the best I've ever seen him," Redmond said. "He was in complete control and threw everything for strikes."

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