The New York Mets look to get .500 again with Mike Pelfrey (4-5 4.70) on the mound against the Texas Rangers' Matt Harrison (5-6 3.16).
Mike Pelfrey's last start was arguably the best start in his career as he went 9 innings (complete game) allowing just 1 run, a home run getting the win.
Matt Harrison is 2-3 in his last seven starts with an earned run average of just 2.06.
Mets have not faced Harrison in their career.
The last time the Mets played in Arlington, Texas, Jose Reyes made his debut in 2003.
Endy Chavez a Texas Ranger and a Mets fan favorite will be playing against the Mets for the first time since he left the team.
Daniel Murphy is batting 8th and Angel Pagan is batting 7th in the Mets lineup tonight for the first time this season.
Jose Reyes has collected a hit and scored a run in 42 of the Mets' 75 games this season.
David Wright has been cleared to resume baseball activities.
Only Charlie Manuel has coached longer then Terry Collins in the NL East.
Mets have signed 2nd pick Michael Fulmer.
The Mets have taken four of the six all-time meetings with the Rangers.
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After a double, hit by Ian Kinsler in the bottom of 1st inning, and a sac bunt by Andrus, Hamilton ripped a line drive that bounced before Carlos Beltran, the right fielder was able to grab it. The Rangers were up 1-0. After that Adrian Beltre hit a bomb to deep left field and the score was 3-0. Pelfrey got the next two batters out to end the bleeding.
In the botom of the 4th inning, Yorvit Torrealba hit a single down the middle with a single. The next two batters moved him over to third base. Then Alvis Endrus hit a single to make the score 4-0. Andrus then stole second while Hamilton was up. Hamilton then flew out to the left fielder Bay to retire the side. The score was still 4-0.
In the 5th inning, Ronny Paulino started the comeback with a double to the right center field fence on a hop. Pagan flied out to right, but Murphy hit an infield single to scoot Paulino over to third base. Ruben Tejada, batting ninth, smacked a line drive single to center field scoring Paulino. With Reyes up and two men on second and first, Reyes smacked a ground ball to third base, where Adrian Beltre snagged it, stepped on third base for the force, and threw to first base to get Reyes with a double play. The score was 4-1.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, with Manny Acosta on to relieve Mike Pelfrey, Adrain Beltre roped a double off the wall going the other way to right field. After that, Michael Young killed a home run to deep center field, and the score was 6-1. Acosta got lucky, getting out of the inning at 6-1 after 7 innings.
With Acosta still in in the 8th inning, he allowed an Ian Kinsler walk, and then another bomb by the Rangers, this time by Josh Hamilton making the score 8-1. After allowing two more Rangers on the corners, Acosta was done for the night. D.J. Carrasco in to relieve got Nelson Cruz to fly out to the center fielder, Angel Pagan to stop the bleeding, yet once again. The score remained 8-1 going into the 9th inning.
Mark Lowe finished the 9th inning to close the game out at a score of 8-1.
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Mike Pelfrey (4-6 4.78) went 6 innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, allowing 4 earned runs with only 3 strikeouts on 111 pitches and took the loss.
Matt Harrison (6-6 3.00) went 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 1 walks, 1 earned run, striking out just 1 on 106 pitches and picking up the win.
Manny Acosta looked very poor tonight as he let up two, two-run home runs in his one and 2/3 innings of work. You would have to think he will be deactivated by Tomorrow after upping his earned run average to 11.05.
Pelfrey, after a very good outing against the Angels, looked out of place tonight. Pelfrey is a pitcher who either has a good game or bad game, seems like he is never in the middle.
Jason Bay went 3 for 4 tonight, seemingly out of his slump, a good sign for the Mets who couldn't figure out what was causing Bay to be in his miserable slump.
When Jose Reyes doesn't get a hit, the Mets struggle, and that's what happened tonight, Reyes had one walk, but also hit into the double play with a runner in scoring position.
The Mets now drop 2 games from .500, something they can't get over. The Mets had many hits, but were never able to get those hits with the runners in scoring position.
Mets will look to bounce back tomorrow, a day game, which doesn't help Josh Hamilton out. Hopefully we see Endy Chavez play a game these next two games.
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