FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Jeromy Burnitz showcased his versatility in two key at-bats.

Burnitz hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, then laid down a key bunt in the 10th as the New York Mets posted a 5-4 triumph over the Florida Marlins.

With the game tied, 4-4, in the 10th and runners at first and second, Burnitz dropped his first sacrifice since June 10, 1998.

"(Somebody) told me I hadn't bunted in four years, so I don't know if anybody knows (if I can bunt)," Burnitz said. "I think anytime anything happens, to give you a chance to win late in a tie game, the bench gets excited."

"(The bunt) was his idea and he got it down," Mets manager Bobby Valentine added. "He's an unselfish player who did a great job tonight."

Marlins reliever Vic Darensbourg (1-1) fielded the bunt between the mound and third base but opted to go to first base. After Edgardo Alfonzo was intentionally walked, Darensbourg lost Jay Payton on five pitches to force home the winning run.

"There's plenty of ways that frustrate you, but that (walk) is one. You can't defend the walk," Marlins manager Jeff Torborg said. "If I thought (Darensbourg) was out of gas, he wouldn't be pitching. He just didn't locate. The balls were all about in the same place, up and away, up and away."

It was the 12th comeback win but just the second walk-off victory of the season for New York.

Burnitz blasted a two-run homer that capped a three-run eighth and gave New York a 4-3 lead. After opening the eighth with a double, Roger Cedeno scored on a double by Alomar to get New York within 3-2.

Reliever Braden Looper struck out Piazza but grooved a 3-1 pitch to Burnitz, who deposited it in the bullpen beyond the right field fence.

"I didn't want him to hurt me there," Looper said. "The ball was outside, but he was sitting on it. I was thinking I wasn't going to give him something to hit and I was trying to throw the ball off the plate."

"It was a big turnaround for us," Alomar said. "It seemed like today we were kind of flat. And from that point on, it seemed like we were more motivated."

Down to their final out, the Marlins turned to 42-year-old Tim Raines, who came through with his first career pinch homer.

Marlins starter Josh Beckett carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before walking Burnitz. He lost his no-hit bid and shutout just four batters later when Mark Johnson delivered an RBI single.

Florida, which has lost six of its last seven, left eight on base and was just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

After leaving four men on over the first two innings, the Marlins got on the board in the third when Mike Lowell singled in Preston Wilson and Cliff Floyd.

Lowell drove in Florida's other run in the fifth when he hit his league-leading 21st double for a 3-0 lead.