Major League Baseball

Mets 10, Marlins 0

Published Mar. 12, 2011 12:10 a.m. ET

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The Florida Marlins look about as bad on defense as they did last year.

Ike Davis and Josh Thole homered and the New York Mets took advantage of Florida's five early errors to beat the Marlins 10-0 Friday.

All the Florida errors, including two by star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, came in the first four innings, helping the Mets score all their runs.

''It's a little bit (frustrating), but that's the way baseball is,'' said starting pitcher Chris Volstad, who gave up three unearned runs. ''That's going to happen. I'm going to make my share of errors, too. There's nothing you can really do. You just have to keep pitching, keep trying to execute and not try to get too worked up.''

The Marlins committed 123 errors last season, fifth-most in the majors.

Davis went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and scored twice. Thole had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.

''He's swinging much better,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''Early in camp, he was struggling. He'd get on his front side too much.''

Luis Castillo and Angel Pagan had two hits apiece.

Mets starter Jon Niese gave up three hits and one walk while striking out four in 4 2-3 innings.

Volstad, the projected fifth starter for Florida, lasted just three innings after allowing six runs, three earned, seven hits and one walk. He struck out two.

''I threw that one bad pitch, a hanging changeup to Ike Davis. Just mechanicals slowed up a little bit, and I was up in the zone,'' Volstad said. ''Other than that, I thought I was down. I got a lot of awkward swings, couple broken bats, ground balls. In the beginning I had a ground ball through the hole, a chopper over the first baseman's head, not much I can do. I felt good, just have to keep it going.''

NOTES: Mets backup catcher Ronny Paulino arrived in Port St. Lucie and is expected in camp Saturday. He was delayed in the Dominican Republic because of visa issues related to his 50-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He still has to serve eight more games. ... Marlins third baseman Wes Helms was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore shoulder. He made the trip with the team but did not play. ... The Marlins optioned right-handed pitchers Jose Ceda, Chris Hatcher, Evan Reed, Omar Poveda and Arquimedes Caminero to minor league camp and reassigned lefty Chad James to minor league camp. ... Mets infielders Ruben Tejada, Zach Lutz and Jordany Valdespin, outfielder Fernando Martinez and right-handed pitchers Armando Rodriguez, Josh Stinson and Manny Alvarez were optioned to minor league camp. In addition, right-handers John Lujan and Tobi Stoner, catcher Kai Gronauer and outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis were reassigned to minor league camp.

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