NEW YORK – Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in three runs, and the Florida Marlins beat the New York Mets 9-7 Tuesday night despite blowing an early six-run lead.

Mike Piazza sprained his left wrist when Juan Pierre ran into the first baseman’s arm as he reached for a wide throw in the second inning. Piazza came out of the game, but X-rays were negative and he was to be re-evaluated Wednesday.

Ex-Met Armando Benitez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 32nd save in 35 chances – and eighth against his former team this season. Benitez saved both games in the series, striking out Cliff Floyd to end each one.

Cabrera’s 21st homer was part of a six-run first inning against Steve Trachsel. The All-Star outfielder also had three RBIs in a 6-5 victory Monday night.

The Mets rallied for a 7-6 lead on homers by Mike Cameron and Richard Hidalgo, but the Marlins tied the game on a wild pitch by Trachsel in the fourth. Cabrera put Florida ahead again with an RBI single in the sixth after reliever John Franco (2-6) walked two batters with two outs.

The Marlins added an insurance run in the eighth when Pierre led off with his fourth hit, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on an RBI single by Mike Lowell.

Pierre slapped the first pitch of the game past third baseman Ty Wigginton and hustled into second for a double. Pierre scored when Luis Castillo, batting .362 in his last 24 games at Shea Stadium, punched a single to right.

After Lowell flied out, Cabrera homered for a 3-0 lead. Jeff Conine doubled, Hee Seop Choi walked and Alex Gonzalez hit his 13th home run, making it 6-0.

The Mets cut the lead in half in the second inning.

Nate Bump, making his first major league start for the Marlins, hit Floyd with a pitch. One out later, Wigginton doubled, scoring Floyd. Cameron hit Bump’s next pitch for his 16th home run.

In the third, the Mets chased Bump and took the lead.

Jose Reyes opened with a single and stole second. Eric Valent, who replaced Piazza, singled home Reyes. When Floyd doubled, Bump was done. Ben Howard (1-1) relieved, and Hidalgo hit his first pitch for a three-run homer. It was Hidalgo’s 13th of the season.

The Marlins tied it at 7 in the fourth when Pierre singled and moved up on Castillo’s second single. After Lowell popped up, Cabrera walked, loading the bases. Pierre scored on a wild pitch by Trachsel.

In the sixth, Franco relieved Trachsel and retired the first two batters but walked Castillo and Lowell. Cabrera then singled against Dan Wheeler for his 67th RBI of the season.

Notes: British Open champion Todd Hamilton threw out the first pitch and showed off his trophy to the umpires at home plate. … The six runs in the first inning matched Florida’s high for a game in July, achieved twice. … Hidalgo’s home run was his first since July 5. … Wigginton and Reyes each stole two bases. … The Mets acquired C Tommy Piazza, younger brother of Mike, from the Los Angeles Dodgers and assigned him to rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League.

AP-ES-07-20-04 2238EDT