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Mets-Brewers Preview

May 29, 2010 - 5:04 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

New York (25-23) at Milwaukee (19-28), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets knew their string of shutouts and five-game winning streak would come to an end at some point. Both ended as soon as Corey Hart's homer landed in the bullpen to conclude Friday's game.

Their struggles on the road, however, are still showing no signs of disappearing.

The Mets' 6-15 record away from Citi Field is the NL's worst, and if they can't bounce back Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, they'll remain without a road series victory through the season's first two months.

New York (25-24) had won five straight heading into Friday's trip to Miller Park, and had some even more impressive momentum on its side. The Mets didn't allow Philadelphia to score a run while earning a three-game sweep at home this week - the first time they'd shut out the same team in three consecutive games since 1969.

New York had a franchise-record 42-inning shutout streak in September that season, and got to 35 against the Brewers (20-28) on Friday, when the teams matched zeros until the bottom of the ninth. Hart's two-run blast ended both streaks and the game, giving Milwaukee a 2-0 win and spoiling eight strong innings from Mets ace Johan Santana.

"As good as he was tonight, we need to score runs and we weren't able to - and that's frustrating," said right fielder Jeff Francoeur, hitting .160 (8 for 50) over his last 16 games.

Of greater concern than the Mets' second shutout loss of the season is their inability to win on the road. New York has been outscored 78-50 while going 3-11 away from Citi Field this month, and its .225 road batting average this season is baseball's worst.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, has the majors' worst home record (7-15) even after Friday's thrilling win.

Offense figures to be easier to come by for both teams Saturday. With the Mets needing a spot start before Jonathon Niese (hamstring) and John Maine (arm fatigue) return to the rotation, Fernando Nieve (1-2, 5.09 ERA) will come out of the bullpen.

Nieve was solid as a starter in 2009, going 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA in seven outings before a torn right quadriceps ended his season.

Now recovered, he's second in the majors in appearances (27) behind teammate Pedro Feliciano. However, the excessive work seems to have caught up with Nieve, who has a 7.20 ERA in May.

"If he does well, he will continue to get the ball," manager Jerry Manuel told the Mets' official website this week, saying Nieve could throw "at least" 80 pitches. "And if we come into a situation where we have too many starters, I think that's all good, too."

Nieve struggled in one start against the Brewers last season. He allowed 11 hits and three runs while lasting just 3 1-3 innings in a 10-6 loss at Miller Park.

Nieve's mound opponent will be another pitcher who's spent most of the year in the bullpen. Manny Parra (1-3, 3.54) allowed one run over four innings in a start May 18 at Cincinnati, but after being needed in relief during a 12-inning game four days later, was scratched from his next outing.

Parra was 11-11 with a 6.36 ERA in 27 starts in 2009, when he didn't face the Mets. The left-hander is 0-1 with a 4.70 ERA in three career appearances versus New York, including two starts.