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Rockies-Mets Preview

Jul 30, 2009 - 3:35 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Colorado (54-46) at New York (48-51), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets appear to be rebounding from an extended slump thanks in part to their improved play at Citi Field.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Rockies, the first-year ballpark has been just as unforgiving to them as Shea Stadium had been in recent years.

The Mets can extend their overall winning streak to six games and set a new record for most consecutive victories at Citi Field by sweeping a doubleheader Thursday against the Rockies, losers of 20 of their last 22 road games in the series.

New York (48-51) has won four straight overall for the first time since May 25-29. It hasn't had a longer streak since a season-high seven-game run May 4-10.

The Mets' current streak includes wins in the first two games of this series. Dating to their final games before the All-Star break, the Mets have averaged 6.0 runs and batted .336 while winning four straight at their new stadium. New York pitchers have a 2.50 ERA and a .235 opponent batting average during that run, which is one win shy of their longest at Citi Field.

This is a welcome development for the Mets, who expected to contend for the NL East title but dropped 17 of 24 games from June 26-July 24.

"We're just playing better baseball," pitcher Mike Pelfrey said after delivering 6 1-3 strong innings in New York's 4-0 win Tuesday. "Everybody knows what we need to do. Confidence-wise, we feel if we show up here you can put money on us. I don't know if you could have said that two weeks ago."

Hosting the Rockies (54-46) has been a good way for the Mets to build confidence. Colorado is 2-20 when visiting New York since the start of 2003, and has dropped its first two games at Citi Field by a combined 11-3.

"We're sputtering offensively the last couple days," manager Jim Tracy said. "It's tested our mettle."

The Rockies got an extra day to pull themselves together when Wednesday's game was postponed by rain, but they won't be able to bypass Mets ace Johan Santana (11-8, 3.12 ERA), who'll start the opener of this doubleheader.

Santana, who has never faced Colorado, is 7-2 with a 1.86 ERA in 10 starts at Citi Field. He struggled on the road Friday, giving up five runs and a career high-tying 12 hits in a 5-4 loss at Houston.

The Rockies, in danger of losing three straight for the first time since a four-game skid May 31-June 3, will turn to Jason Hammel (5-5, 4.28), who's thrived on the road. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 games - eight starts - outside Colorado.

Hammel gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-1 home loss to San Francisco on Friday. He has never faced the Mets.

Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 4.78) will start the nightcap for the Rockies looking to win his seventh straight start. The left-hander has posted a 2.68 ERA during his streak, which continued Saturday with an 8-2 victory over the Giants.

"It's exciting to pitch like I'm pitching right now," said De La Rosa, who's 8-1 since losing his first six decisions of the year. "I feel very comfortable right now. I have to keep pitching like I pitched today."

De La Rosa has a 7.71 ERA in six career relief appearances against New York, which he hasn't faced since 2006.

The Mets will hand the ball to Jonathon Niese (1-0, 4.08) for the series finale. The 22-year-old left-hander got his first win in three starts this season Saturday, holding Houston to one run and four hits in seven innings of a 10-3 victory. He had just been called up from the minors, where he was 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA over his final seven outings.

"Every time I come back, I try to stay as long as I possibly can," said Niese, who made his major league debut last September. "I just tried to go back to my Triple-A starts and remember what I did and how I had success there."