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Mets-Phillies Preview

Sep 26, 2010 - 4:00 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (74-79) at Philadelphia (93-61), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies' bid for a franchise-record fourth consecutive playoff berth was put on hold for at least one day.

Cole Hamels is looking to make sure that doesn't happen again, and he may help deliver another NL East title, too.

Hamels looks to continue a dominant stretch when the Phillies conclude a three-game series with the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon.

The Phillies (93-62) need to win one game to clinch a playoff berth. However, a win Sunday combined with an Atlanta loss at Washington would secure a fourth consecutive division crown.

Philadelphia, the two-time reigning NL champion, came up short of gaining a postseason spot Saturday, and saw its 11-game winning streak end with a 5-2 loss to New York (75-79).

Sending Hamels (12-10, 2.93 ERA) to the mound could keep that from repeating itself Sunday.

The left-hander has won a career-high five starts in a row with a 0.49 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 36 2-3 innings. On Monday, he limited the Braves to one run and six hits over eight innings of Philadelphia's 3-1 victory.

"I'm just making the right pitches at the right time, staying down in the zone, keeping them off-balance," Hamels said. "I've been able to narrow my focus and I'm making my pitches."

Hamels has posted career-bests in ERA and strikeouts (207) this season. His spot in a rotation that includes Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt gives Philadelphia perhaps the most impressive top three starters of any team headed to the playoffs.

"Who do I consider the ace?" manager Charlie Manuel said. "Whoever pitches good that night. We've got some pretty good pitchers. To say who is the ace, I like all three of them."

Hamels, though, could use a little help to get the Phillies back to the playoffs. He's 1-7 with a 3.93 ERA in his last nine starts against the Mets, while getting backed by 1.47 runs per game.

Hamels has a 1.69 ERA while losing all three meetings versus New York in 2010, getting zero runs of support in 21 1-3 innings.

The Mets might be motivated to spoil the Phillies' potential celebration for one more day after ending a six-game slide Saturday.

"Obviously the crowd's going to be loud, and these Phillies fans can get a little crazy sometimes," pitcher Pat Misch told the Mets' official website. "Obviously, we don't want them to celebrate while we're here."

Misch (0-4, 4.44) is getting a spot start to rest Mike Pelfrey and Jonathon Niese as the season nears an end.

The left-hander has made his last five appearances out of the bullpen, allowing four hits in 3 1-3 scoreless innings. He's 0-4 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts after being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 14. Hours later, he lost his season debut 4-0 to Philadelphia, allowing four runs - one earned - in six innings.