Nothing will erase the memories of Sep. 2007. Not a second division title in three years, not a World Series victory and certainly, not an Opening Day win. But, as the saying goes, "time heals all wounds."

Of course, so does a pitcher like Johan Santana.

The Mets unveiled their prized off-season acquisition in Miami, and the 29-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner did not disappoint. Santana surrendered just three hits and two runs over seven innings and David Wright's three-run double highlighted a six-run fourth inning as the Mets kicked off their 2008 campaign with a 7-2 victory over the Florida Marlins in front of 38,308 at Dolphin Stadium on Monday afternoon.

Wright and Carlos Beltran each had two doubles while Jose Reyes went 2-for-4 with an RBI for New York, which improved to 30-17 on Opening Day, the best winning percentage in the Majors.

Both the Marlins, who traded all-stars Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera in the offseason, and the Mets struggled offensively until New York's bats exploded in the fourth inning off Florida starter Mark Hendrickson.

Beltran (2-for-5, 2 2B) ripped a two-bagger to start the inning and after Carlos Delgado walked, Angel Pagan stroked a double just fair down the third baseline to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Ryan Church followed with an RBI single to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

Hendrickson (0-1) rebounded to get Brian Schneider on a line-out and Santana on a strikeout, but Reyes (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) singled to left for a 3-0 lead before Luis Castillo walked to load the bases.

Wright (2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI) quickly unloaded them, smacking a double to the wall in left-center for a 6-0 lead.

Hendrickson was lifted after five innings having allowed six runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The rest of the afternoon belonged to Santana (1-0), who did not allow a runner until a leadoff walk to Hanley Ramirez in the bottom of the fourth. Josh Willingham, who has had his fair share of offensive moments against the Mets, belted a two-run homer later in the inning to get the Fish on the board.

Santana would surrender just two more singles and a walk, leaving after seven frames having issued two free passes while fanning eight among his 100 pitches, including four straight in the fifth and sixth innings.

Acquired in late January for four prospects and then signed to six-year, $137.5 million deal, Santana instantly became the ace New York has lacked in recent years. That was never more evident than down the stretch last year, when the Mets squandered a seven-game lead to the Philadelphia Phillies with only 17 games remaining.

Without anyone willing or able to stop the bleeding, New York stumbled to a 5-12 finish, including a 1-6 stretch at home during the last week against the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and the Marlins.

New York scored their final run in the ninth when Marlon Anderson reached on a pinch-hit single, moved to second on a sacrifice and took third and then home on a wild-pitch and an errant throw by Florida catcher Mike Treanor.

Matt Wise, Scott Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa worked out of trouble in the eighth before Aaron Heilman hurled a perfect ninth, striking out two, to finish off the win.

With the first victory of the season under their belts, the Mets (1-0) will look to win for the 10th time in 11 games at Dolphin Stadium. Pedro Martinez (3-1, 2.57) will make his much-awaited 2008 debut after a healthy spring. Seventeen months removed from rotator cuff surgery, the 36-year-old will look to regain the form he displayed for New York in 2005 when he won 15 games with an ERA below three. The right-hander showed during his five September starts last year that he can still pitch like an ace, winning three games while striking out 32 over 28 innings. Martinez earned his final win of 2007 in Miami last Sep. 21, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings of a 9-6 victory. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, who enjoys pitching in the warm weather of South Florida, is just 6-6 in 21 career outings (17 starts) against the Fish, despite a 2.85 ERA.

With a shell of what seemed to be a promising rotation following the 2006 season, the Marlins (0-1) will hand the ball to youngster Rick VandenHurk (4-6, 6.83) on Tuesday evening. The 22-year-old native of The Netherlands struggled during 18 appearances (17 starts) in his rookie season of 2007, winning just once in his final 10 outings (1-4), allowing 35 runs and 56 hits over 47 1/3 innings. VandenHurk faced New York twice last year and was tagged for 12 runs on 10 hits -- four home runs -- in just nine frames for an ERA of 12.

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