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Diamondbacks-Mets Preview

Aug 2, 2009 - 4:52 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (45-58) at New York (49-53), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Two long home runs by Arizona at spacious Citi Field stole a bit of the spotlight from a New York Mets win. The Diamondbacks may not find it as easy to connect against Mike Pelfrey.

The Mets hope Pelfrey and his sinker-heavy repertoire can put together a second straight strong outing as they continue a four-game series with the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

With deeper fences and higher walls along most of its perimeter, New York's new home has built a reputation as a tough park to hit home runs. Only 81 homers have been hit at Citi Field - the fifth-fewest in the league - with Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright managing just seven overall after hitting at least 30 in each of his previous two seasons.

An eighth-inning grand slam by Angel Pagan, though, broke a tie and led New York (50-53) to a 9-6 win over Arizona (45-59) on Saturday night.

Pagan's first homer since July 15, 2007 - when he was with the Chicago Cubs - helped the Mets avoid a third straight loss. Round-trippers by Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton, meanwhile, were impressive in their own right, albeit in a losing effort.

Upton, a first-time All-Star this season, hit a mammoth shot in the first that reached the second deck in left field, giving him 20 on the season. The only other player that had reached that deck in left at Citi Field was Upton's brother, B.J., for Tampa Bay on June 21.

In the ninth inning, Reynolds' homer landed in the second deck in left-center. It was his 30th homer, four behind St. Louis' Albert Pujols for the major league lead.

"You watch their BP and it's an absolute show," Arizona starter Max Scherzer said of Upton and Reynolds. "There's not a ballpark in the league that can hold them. Haven't seen one yet."

No current Diamondback, however, has ever homered against Pelfrey (8-6, 4.72 ERA), who has allowed just 0.62 per nine innings in his career. The right-hander has surrendered one homer in his last eight starts at Citi Field, going 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA during that span.

Pelfrey had lost consecutive starts before beating Colorado on Tuesday night. He gave up seven hits and struck out five in 6 1-3 innings of New York's 4-0 victory. It was Pelfrey's second straight win at Citi Field, where he is 4-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 11 outings. He's 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA in three career starts versus the Diamondbacks.

Arizona will counter with Jon Garland (5-10, 4.42), who is 0-5 over his last seven road starts despite posting a 3.22 ERA over that stretch. The right-hander has gotten three runs or fewer to work with in each of those outings, and is 2-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 10 starts away from Chase Field this year.

Garland suffered a loss at home in his last start, giving up six runs - three earned - and five hits in six innings as Arizona was defeated by Philadelphia 6-2 on Monday night.

In his only outing against the Mets, Garland surrendered three runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings for the Los Angeles Angels in a 5-4, 10-inning loss June 18, 2008.

He'll be facing an injury-depleted Mets lineup that is coming off an impressive performance in the clutch, going 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Wright, one of the few regulars left for New York, is hitting .395 (15 for 38) during an 11-game hitting streak.

Arizona is expected to have two of its top run producers back in the lineup. Shortstop Stephen Drew and catcher Miguel Montero - both left-handed hitters - were rested Saturday against New York southpaw Oliver Perez.