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Mets-Rockies Preview

Sep 3, 2009 - 5:23 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

New York (59-73) at Colorado (73-59), 3:10 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies didn't acquire Jason Giambi to be an everyday player, but rather for clutch, late-inning situations. So far, the aging slugger has delivered.

Thanks to RBIs from Giambi in each of his first two games with the Rockies, the wild card leaders seek their first sweep over the New York Mets in two years in Thursday's series finale at Coors Field.

Colorado (74-59) signed Giambi on Aug. 24, two weeks after Oakland released the 2000 AL MVP. He had a forgettable second stint with the A's, batting .193 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 83 games, but has already come up big in two contests for the Rockies.

Giambi's pinch-hit two-run single Wednesday broke an eighth-inning tie and powered Colorado to a 5-2 win over the Mets to remain one game up on San Francisco in the wild-card race. Giambi made his Rockies debut in Tuesday's 8-3 victory over New York (59-74), entering as a pinch hitter in the seventh and drawing a bases-loaded walk on four pitches.

"It's kind of a new experience for me, but at the same time I enjoy being in that spot," said the 38-year-old veteran. "I'm thankful that the Rockies came calling and gave me this opportunity. ... Like I said, there are no small roles in a chance to win a pennant."

Giambi isn't the only player stepping up during Colorado's playoff push.

Catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who drove in his 15th run of the season Wednesday, is batting .378 with five RBIs during a career-best 12-game hitting streak. Franklin Morales wrapped up Wednesday's victory by recording his first major league save.

Morales took over for closer Huston Street, who the team is shutting down for a few days to rest biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm.

"This late in the season you can't afford to mess up and be down two or three weeks when it might be only four or five days to a week if we just be smart about it and shut it down," said Street, who has 33 saves in 34 chances.

Trying to help the Rockies sweep the Mets for the first time since July 2-4, 2007, Jason Marquis (14-9, 3.60 ERA) takes the ball seeking to match his career high in wins.

The right-hander allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings of a 5-3 loss at San Francisco on Saturday, his first defeat since Aug. 8. He had been 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his previous three starts.

Marquis, who won a career-high 15 games for St. Louis in 2004, has made one start against New York this season, permitting three runs and seven hits in six innings of a 4-0 defeat July 28.

The reeling Mets, losers of 11 of 14, counter with Pat Misch (0-1, 3.41), who again seeks his first major league win.

After making 19 relief appearances, Misch came up a little short in his first start of 2009. The left-hander gave up one run and six hits in seven innings Friday, but didn't get a decision in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

That result was a familiar one for Misch, who is 0-5 with a 6.32 ERA in 12 career starts, all of which his team has lost.