Detroit @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2010 ) Detroit 6, NY Mets 14
With Carlos Beltran set to begin a rehab assignment at Class A Port St. Lucie on Thursday, Angel Pagan's days as the New York Mets' starting center fielder could be numbered.
Pagan is making the most of them.
The 28-year-old switch hitter from Puerto Rico kept up his torrid hitting Tuesday, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs in the Mets' 14-6 win against Detroit. He'll try to extend his 10-game hitting streak when the series continues tonight at Citi Field.
After struggling at the plate in their weekend series at Yankee Stadium, the Mets turned things around in a big way Tuesday. They pounded 14 hits and scored a season-high 14 runs in taking the series opener against Detroit.
Each of the first four hitters in the Mets' lineup had at least three hits, led by Pagan, who is 13-for-25 with nine RBIs in the last six games.
Pagan and the Mets hope to keep up the hot hitting against 27-year-old right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who is looking for his third consecutive quality start.
Bonderman (3-4, 4.06 ERA) was bombed for seven runs and 11 hits in a June 6 loss at Kansas City, but he has responded with two solid starts since. In his most recent outing, he went seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits in an 8-3 win against Washington on Thursday.
The Tigers continue to struggle away from Comerica Park, where they wrapped up an 8-1 homestand Sunday. They've lost nine of their last 12 on the road.
Bonderman has felt the sting of that trend. He is 1-2 with a 6.03 ERA in six road starts.
Mets starter R.A. Dickey has been sharp home and away. The 35-year-old knuckleball specialist has won his last five starts, tying a franchise record for starting pitchers by winning his first five decisions with the club.
Dickey (5-0, 2.82 ERA) matched the record when he beat Cleveland on Thursday, holding the Indians to three runs - two earned - on seven hits over six innings.
In 12 appearances against Detroit - five starts - Dickey is 2-2 with a 4.69 ERA. Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera is 4-for-10 with a homer against him.
The Mets have won 11 of 12 at home and are 25-10 at Citi Field this season. They gained a game on National League East leader Atlanta on Tuesday, pulling with 1 1/2 games.
New York has won 13 of 16 overall, and Pagan's hot bat has been a big reason for the surge, but third baseman David Wright and shortstop Jose Reyes also have been hitting well.
Wright, who went 3-for-3 Tuesday, is 31-for-78 (.397) with four homers and 20 RBIs in 20 games since May 30. He has 10 multi-hit games during that span.
Reyes had three hits Tuesday to get back on track after having his 11-game hitting streak snapped Sunday. He is 23-for-58 (.397) with four homers and eight RBIs in the last 13 games.