Braves verses Mets - Preview
ATLANTA BRAVES (56-71) AT NEW YORK METS (70-57), 7:10 P.M.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Mike Hampton (2-1, 6.92) New York - Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.96)
The National League East-leading New York Mets shoot for their second sweep in less than two weeks this evening, when they close out a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.
The Mets swept the Washington Nationals in three games on the road from August 12-14, and have won the first two encounters with Atlanta. In Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Braves, starter Mike Pelfrey recorded his first career complete game and allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts to win for the 10th time in his last 12 decisions. The right-hander also knocked in a run and retired the last 11 batters he faced.
Daniel Murphy drove in two runs and David Wright added a solo shot for the Mets, who have won eight of their last nine games to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. The Phillies blanked the Washington Nationals, 4-0, on Wednesday.
New York is 2-0 on a seven-game homestand and 38-23 at Shea Stadium this season. It will hand pitching duties over to veteran Pedro Martinez on Thursday, and he is 4-3 with a 4.96 earned run average in 13 starts.
Martinez is 2-1 in his previous seven starts, having beaten Pittsburgh the last time out on August 16 at PNC Park. The right-hander gave up only one run and eight hits in seven innings of his team's 7-4 triumph against the Pirates. He is 11-9 with a 3.54 ERA and five complete games in 28 career meetings, 21 of which have been starts, against the Braves.
Atlanta has lost four in a row and nine of its last 10 games. In last night's loss in the Big Apple, Gregor Blanco went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for Atlanta, which got a subpar outing from starter Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens lost for the fourth time in his last five starts after he permitted six runs -- four earned -- on six hits and three walks in five innings.
The Braves are 0-2 on a six-game road trip and 22-40 as the guest this season.
Mike Hampton will make his sixth start for Atlanta tonight, and is 2-1 with a 6.92 ERA in five trips to the hill. Hampton won his most recent start on August 16 versus San Francisco, as he surrendered just a pair of runs on seven hits in six innings of an 11-5 win.
Hampton, a left-hander and former Mets pitcher, is 10-10 with a 3.15 ERA in 28 career games (26 starts) against his old ballclub. Hampton went 15-10 in 33 starts for the Mets during the 2000 season.
The Mets have won just four of their 11 matchups to the division-rival Braves this season.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Atlanta - Mike Hampton (2-1, 6.92) New York - Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.96)
The National League East-leading New York Mets shoot for their second sweep in less than two weeks this evening, when they close out a three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.
The Mets swept the Washington Nationals in three games on the road from August 12-14, and have won the first two encounters with Atlanta. In Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Braves, starter Mike Pelfrey recorded his first career complete game and allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts to win for the 10th time in his last 12 decisions. The right-hander also knocked in a run and retired the last 11 batters he faced.
Daniel Murphy drove in two runs and David Wright added a solo shot for the Mets, who have won eight of their last nine games to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. The Phillies blanked the Washington Nationals, 4-0, on Wednesday.
New York is 2-0 on a seven-game homestand and 38-23 at Shea Stadium this season. It will hand pitching duties over to veteran Pedro Martinez on Thursday, and he is 4-3 with a 4.96 earned run average in 13 starts.
Martinez is 2-1 in his previous seven starts, having beaten Pittsburgh the last time out on August 16 at PNC Park. The right-hander gave up only one run and eight hits in seven innings of his team's 7-4 triumph against the Pirates. He is 11-9 with a 3.54 ERA and five complete games in 28 career meetings, 21 of which have been starts, against the Braves.
Atlanta has lost four in a row and nine of its last 10 games. In last night's loss in the Big Apple, Gregor Blanco went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for Atlanta, which got a subpar outing from starter Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens lost for the fourth time in his last five starts after he permitted six runs -- four earned -- on six hits and three walks in five innings.
The Braves are 0-2 on a six-game road trip and 22-40 as the guest this season.
Mike Hampton will make his sixth start for Atlanta tonight, and is 2-1 with a 6.92 ERA in five trips to the hill. Hampton won his most recent start on August 16 versus San Francisco, as he surrendered just a pair of runs on seven hits in six innings of an 11-5 win.
Hampton, a left-hander and former Mets pitcher, is 10-10 with a 3.15 ERA in 28 career games (26 starts) against his old ballclub. Hampton went 15-10 in 33 starts for the Mets during the 2000 season.
The Mets have won just four of their 11 matchups to the division-rival Braves this season.
