New York @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2010 ) NY Mets 3, Houston 1
The New York Mets on Monday scored one more run than they collected in their entire three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies last weekend. They also surrendered a run in a victory for the first time in their last five wins.
The Mets will try to continue their modest offensive outburst on Tuesday when they take on the Houston Astros in the second contest of their four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
In losing two of three to the Phillies, New York managed a total of two runs - one of which came in a 1-0 victory on Friday. The Mets crossed the plate just nine times during their 3-3 homestand and have scored three runs or less in 11 of their 14 games this month.
Friday's triumph was the fourth consecutive win in which the Mets held their opponent scoreless and second 1-0 victory over Philadelphia during the stretch.
New York yielded a run against Houston in the sixth inning on Monday, but scored twice in the top of the ninth to extend its winning streak versus the Astros to six games. David Wright, who went 3-for-4, scored on a wild pitch by Houston closer Matt Lindstrom to snap a 1-1 tie and Jeff Francoeur followed with an RBI triple off the left-center field wall.
Unfortunately for Jonathon Niese, he was unable to pick up the victory despite another strong performance. For the third consecutive start, Niese allowed one run in seven innings but settled for a no-decision.
Johan Santana hopes to run his current streak to three games. The left-hander has not allowed a run in his last two starts, throwing a total of 16 1/3 scoreless innings.
On Thursday, Santana tossed his second complete-game shutout of the year, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 10 in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Rockies. It was the 31-year-old's second straight victory and fifth in six decisions.
Santana owns a 2-1 record and 2.52 ERA in four career games - three starts - against Houston. He suffered the loss in their last meeting, surrendering five runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss at Minute Maid Park on July 24, 2009.
Carlos Lee has fared well against Santana during his career, hitting .314 (11-for-35) with three home runs and 11 RBIs.
In 13 road starts this year, Santana is 3-3 with a 2.73 ERA.
The Mets, who have won just eight of their last 28 games away from home, will be facing a former teammate in Nelson Figueroa.
Replacing Wesley Wright in the Astros' rotation, Figueroa will be making just his second start of 2010. He made his first as a member of the Phillies, yielding two runs and five hits in five innings against Arizona on April 24.
Figueroa, who spent the previous two seasons with New York, went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in eight relief appearances with Houston. The 36-year-old is 0-0 with a 3.78 ERA in six career games against the Mets, including his only start vs. the club in 2001 while with Philadelphia.
The Astros, who had their three-game winning streak snapped Monday, are 4-3 on their 10-game homestand.