Pre Game Facts:

The New York Mets are now 2 games over .500, starting off their 7 game road trip with a two wins without all-star Jose Reyes against the struggling Los Angles Dodgers.

Jose Reyes will be sitting out his 4th game, as Dodgers' Andre Ethier will be back in the line-up tonight after missing the first 2 games of the series with a high temperature.

The Mets haven't won three straight games at Chavez Ravine in the same season since August 28-30 in 1989.

Ace pitcher, Johan Santana will throw another bullpen session Tomorrow.

Former hated manager of the New York Mets, Willie Randolph turned 57 today.

Starting Pitchers:

Mets: Jon Niese (7-7 3.72)

Dodgers: Hiroki Kuroda (6-9 2.90)

Line-ups:

Mets: Pagan CF, Turner 2B, Beltran CF, Murphy 3B, Bay LF, Duda 1B, Thole C, Tejada SS, Niese P

Dodgers: Furcal SS, Carroll 2B, Ethier RF, Kemp CF, Uribe 3B, Loney 1B, Velez LF, Ellis C, Kuroda P

Scoring Plays:

In the top of the 4th inning, Carlos Beltran led the inning off with a double down the right field line. Daniel Murphy grounded out to first base, allowing Beltran to go to third. Jason Bay then hit a hard grounder right at the pitcher Kuroda, leaving Beltran at first. But Beltran scored on a Lucas Duda double down the right field line to make the score 1-0 in the Mets favor.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Dodgers struck back with a Juan Uribe ground out scoring Andre Eithier to make the score tied at 1.

In the top of the 6th inning the Mets got back on top on a past ball thrown by Kuroda, who leads the major leagues in wild pitches at 11, scoring Beltran, and the score was 2-1. That wasn't all as Duda and Thole singled bringing up Ruben Tejada with 2 outs. Tejada lined a double to right center field scoring 2, making the score 4-1.

Starting off the bottom of the 6th inning, Rafael Furcal was walked, and Jamey Carroll hit a bloop single, moving Furcal to third base. Eithier then hit a single through the short stop and third base gap scoring Furcal to make the score 4-2.  Then Matt Kemp hit a double play ball to the short stop Tejada. They got Eithier, but couldn't get Kemp in time, though it seemed like he should have been out. Uribe then hit a sac fly to left field scoring Carroll to make the score 4-3.

In the top of the 9th inning, Willie Harris pinch hitting with 1 out fr Bobby Parnell, hit a double to right center field. Pagan then flew out to center, and it was up to Justin Turner. Turner delivered with a single to right center field, making the score 5-3.

Post Game Wrap Up:

Mets won the game 5-3.

Hiroki Kuroda went 6 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 8 hits and 1 intentional walk, striking out 2 on 93 pitches, upping his earned run average to 3.06 and receiving the loss.

Jon Niese went 7 strong innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits and one walk, striking out 6 on 97 pitches, moving his earned run average up to 3.73 and receiving the win.

Francisco Rodriguez got the save allowing only 1 single.

The Mets have been very good this season at scoring runs with 2 outs as they got 4 today. They are 2nd in the NL trailing the Phillies.

Overall the Mets have played very good ball against a very lopsided Dodgers team. They were expected to win these games, but for the first time this season, the Mets are 3 games over .500.

They will now start their 7 straight all-star pitcher series, which will decide where most of the Mets players will be going.

The Mets are only 6.5 out of the 1st place Braves in the Wild Card. The Mets play them more in the second half, so they still have a chance at being contenders for the wild card playoff spot.

Game Ball:

Carlos Beltran had the first 2 runs for the Mets scoring both times when he doubled with 0 outs. He started the lighting for the Mets, and deserves much credit for doing so.

Bottom Line:

The Mets won another series on the road, and are 3 games over .500 for first time this season.