OK Jon Niese, it’s your turn again. For the 2nd straight start, Jon Niese (3-2 4.55 ERA) will be following consecutive complete game shutouts by Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey. Dickey followed up Santana’s no-hitter by tossing a pedestrian 7-hit complete game shutout yesterday to put the Mets a season high 7 games over .500. Jake Westbrook (4-4 3.84 ERA) will have the task of trying to stop the Mets offense from rolling.
Some interesting game notes via Metsblog.com…
-The Mets have won 13 of their last 19 home games, and are 18-11 overall at Citi Field.
–R.A. Dickey became the first pitcher to follow a no-hitter with a complete game shutout since Pedro Astacio did so on August 18, 1992, the day after Kevin Gross of the Rockies no-hit the Giants.
-Yesterday was the Mets National League leading sixth shutout of the season.
–David Wright has scored 734 runs in his career, one short of Jose Reyes‘ franchise high of 735.
-The Mets scored two more runs with two outs yesterday, giving them a Major League best 116 for the season.
-Tonight the Mets will be electing John Franco into the Mets Hall Of Fame. In John’s honor, the Mets will be wearing their Black uniforms from the mid 90’s-2000’s.
Remember when no one thought the Mets would be any good? Yea, well now ESPN is hopping on the bandwagon and has put tonight’s game on their fantastic station. Luckily you can hear Howie Rose call the game on WFAN. Game time is 8:10 pm.
Starting Lineups via Metsblog.com
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New York Mets 1) Kirk Nieuwenhuis LF |
St. Louis Cardinals 1) Rafael Furcal SS |
Who’s hot for the Mets?…Daniel Murphy is hitting .319 with 5 RBI’s in his past 6 games
Who’s hot for the Cards?…Yadier Molina is hitting .444 in his last 5 games with 2 HR and 8 RBI’s
On The Mound
Jon Niese (3-2 4.55 ERA) has the task of trying to make it 3 straight shutouts for the Mets tonight. In Jon’s last outing against the Phillies, in 5 innings he surrendered only 2 hits, but allowed 4 earned runs, while walking 5 and striking out 7. Niese’s has not been able to get into a groove yet this season. In 3 career starts against the Cards, Jon is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA.
St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook (4-4, 3.84) has a great start of the season, but has now fallen off the map. He started the season 4-2 with a 1.76 ERA, but has gotten hammered lately to the tune of 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last four starts. In 3 career starts against the Mets, Westbrook is 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA.
