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Mets, Rockies attempt to get finale in at Coors Field

Apr 18, 2013 - 1:51 PM (Sports Network) - Well-traveled right-hander Jon Garland can pitch the Colorado Rockies past the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon when they meet in the finale of a weather-altered set at Coors Field.

The scheduled Monday night opener between the teams was postponed to Tuesday, setting up a doubleheader sweep for Colorado. Game three on Wednesday was postponed by snow with no immediately announced makeup date, leaving the teams to try and squeeze in Thursday's ender.

Garland, a first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1997, pitched with six teams through the close of 2011 - when he won once in nine starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He was out of the majors in 2012 before signing a free-agent deal with the Seattle Mariners in February. The Mariners released him in late March, and he was picked up the following day by the Rockies.

He's since made two starts for Colorado - both against the San Diego Padres - on April 6 and 12, emerging with a win and a no-decision while allowing 10 hits and five runs in 12 innings.

Garland is 1-1 in five career meetings with the Mets and is 2-1 in four career starts at Coors Field.

New York replies with lefty Jonathon Niese, who faces the Rockies for the sixth time in his 99th career appearance.

The Ohio native reached the big leagues with the Mets in 2008 and made eight starts across two seasons before catching on in the rotation in 2010 and winning nine times in 30 starts.

He upped his win total to 11 and 13 in the subsequent two seasons and is 2-0 through three outings this season while allowing seven earned runs on 17 hits in 17 2/3 innings.

Niese is 1-2 in five career starts against the Rockies with a 5.87 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. He has a 7.94 ERA in 11 1/3 career innings at Coors Field.

On Tuesday, Jordan Pacheco hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th inning of the second game to lift the Rockies to a 9-8 win.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Pacheco hit a blooper off Greg Burke (0-1) to shallow right and brought Carlos Gonzalez home to end the game.

Pacheco and Yorvit Torrealba drove in two runs apiece, while Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer and Chris Nelson each had an RBI for the Rockies, who won the first game, 8-4.

Rockies starter Jeff Francis allowed eight runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings. Rafael Betancourt (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless 10th inning.

Marlon Byrd knocked in three runs while Ruben Tejada had two RBI for the Mets, who used eight pitchers in the game. Aaron Laffey got the start, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks in four innings.

The Rockies won five of seven games with the Mets in both 2011 and 2012. The Mets last won the series, 3-2, in 2010.