New York Mets (22-11) At Philadelphia Phillies (18-15)
05.11.06 (10:18 am) [edit]
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets close out their three-game series tonight, as the teams meet for the rubber match at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies won the opener, 5-4, but New York came back with a 13-4 rout on Wednesday. The Mets hold a four-game lead over Philadelphia for first place in the NL East.
On Wednesday, Tom Glavine threw seven strong innings and was one of four New York players to drive in at least two runs. Glavine (5-2) earned his third straight win, allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He also went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for New York.
Jose Reyes had a two-run homer for the Mets, who ended a two-game slide and won for the 10th time in 15 outings. Paul Lo Duca added two hits and three RBI and Carlos Beltran ended with two hits and two RBI for New York, which capitalized on three Philadelphia errors and exploded for six runs in the third to put the game out of reach.
Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer and Ryan Howard hit a solo shot for the Phillies, who had a nine-game win streak halted. The winning stretch was the longest for the club since a 13-game run from July 30 to August 12, 1991.
Steve Trachsel will try to end a two-game winless streak tonight, as he takes the ball for the Mets.
Trachsel is 0-1 over his last two outings and is coming off Friday's no decision against Atlanta. He surrendered four runs and nine hits over six innings in a game that New York would win, 8-7.
The 35-year-old right-hander is 10-9 with a 3.93 earned run average in 27 career starts versus the Phillies.
The Phillies will send Gavin Floyd to the hill tonight and they hope the young right-hander can win his third straight start.
Floyd's most recent victory came last Friday against the San Francisco Giants. He yielded three runs and nine hits in six innings against the Giants despite giving up two home runs.
The 23-year-old Floyd is 1-0 with an 8.10 ERA in two career games (1 start) against the Mets.
The Mets were 11-7 against the Phillies last season and took five of eight meetings in Philadelphia.