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Rockies seek best start in team history in Flushing

Apr 13, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Perhaps a rain delay was the only thing that could cool down the Colorado Rockies. The New York Mets certainly hope so.

After last night's postponement, the Rockies take aim at a fourth straight victory and their best 10-game start to a season in franchise history this evening at Citi Field.

The Rockies won the opener of this series on Monday by a 7-6 margin, going ahead for good on Troy Tulowitzki's two-run homer in the eighth inning. It came right after Carlos Gonzalez plated a run on a fielder's choice grounder, and the three runs were big after New York came back with two runs in the bottom of the frame on David Wright's homer and an RBI single by Ike Davis.

"We did a good job of staying in the ballgame, keeping it close. When we had our chance to take over we did," said Tulowitzki, who along with Gonzalez finished with three RBI.

This game will stay a four-game series despite last night's postponement, with the two clubs set to play a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday. The first game will start at 12:10 p.m.

Monday's win improved Colorado to 7-2, matching the 1995 and '97 clubs for the best start in club history. Both of those previous teams lost their 10th game of the season.

Colorado's Esmil Rogers and Jon Niese of New York were set to start last night's game, but both will instead go tonight.

Rogers was excellent in his season debut in Pittsburgh last Thursday. He gave up just a run on four hits over 7 1/3 innings to get the win, striking out seven and retiring 18 in a row at one point in just his 10th big league start.

"I felt great with all of my pitches," said the right-handed Rogers.

The 25-year-old has never started against the Mets, but has faced them twice in relief. He has given up a run and two hits over three innings in that span.

With the Mets having lost five of six, they will hope that Niese can put a horrid outing last time out behind him.

The 24-year-old southpaw was decent in his season debut on April 2 in which he held the Marlins to a pair of runs over seven innings of a no-decision, but he was then tagged for six runs on eight hits over four innings of an 11-0 loss in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Niese, whose earned run average ballooned to 6.55, has never beaten the Rockies, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts.

These two clubs split their six meetings a season ago, with the Mets winning two of three at home.