Manager Tony Perez promised lineup changes after the Marlins' 5-2, mistake-filled loss to the New York Mets on Thursday night, and he delivered them Friday.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez, third baseman Mike Lowell, left fielder Cliff Floyd and catcher Charles Johnson were not in the lineup on Friday. Johnson didn't start Thursday night either.

"It's not because we are losing. It's how we are losing," Perez said. "We're not swinging well. We're not running well, and I don't think that it's on purpose. We should be better than we are. I hope our players believe we are better than this."

Dave Berg, who started at second base Thursday night, replaced Gonzalez. Mike Gulan, who hit .324 with 22 home runs and 92 RBI in 124 games at Calgary, replaced Lowell.

"I'm feeling 100 percent," Lowell said. "I just wish that I could get more hits, but that's the way it goes. When I'm in the lineup, I do the best that I can."

Eric Owens, who played right field with Kevin Millar moving to left field, replaced Floyd. Mike Redmond, who has a career .347 average against left-handers, replaced Johnson.

"The guys are tired and frustrated," Perez said. "I'm going to rest them until they show me that they are OK. I don't know about [today's] lineup. We'll just have to see."

Gonzalez is batting .132 over his past 10 games. Lowell is hitting .200 over his past 14 games and was 2 for 20 against Glendon Rusch, who pitched a complete game for the Mets on Friday night. Floyd, whose slump has been the longest, has five RBI in his past 28 games. Johnson is hitless in his past 12 at-bats.

"I couldn't believe how we won two games in a row, and then came out as flat as we did [Thursday] night," Perez said. "We didn't play good, and when you don't play good, you are going to get beat.

"When I became manager, the team showed me that it can pitch, hit and run. It turned it around. The effort was there. The effort hasn't been there. That's what upset me."

Wilson getting hot

Center fielder Preston Wilson has been on a tear in September, hitting .379 (11 for 29) with four home runs and eight RBI. He has regained his stroke after hitting .118 in June and missing July with a sprained ligament in his left thumb.

After returning from the disabled list Aug. 10, he has hit in 21 of 27 games (with 10 homers), including seven in a row.

"When I came back, I intended to get the most out of it," said Wilson, who also went through the death of his infant son while he was on the disabled list. "It's good to finish the season on a high note.

"Even without a good finish, I would have had an optimistic outlook in the spring. I never lost confidence in my ability, and I never doubted my ability. It feels good to be playing good again."