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Pelfrey aims to lead Mets to longest winning streak in eight years

Jul 13, 2008 - 9:22 PM Colorado (39-56) at Ny Mets (50-44) 8:05 pm. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets look for their longest winning streak in more than eight years on Sunday, when they close out the unofficial first half of the season against the Colorado Rockies.

New York extended its run to eight games and climbed within one-half game of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East with a 3-0 triumph on Saturday. Jose Reyes homered and the bullpen picked up the slack for an injured Pedro Martinez.

The Mets have not won nine in a row since April 16-25, 2000, the year they lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Martinez left Saturday's game with tightness in his surgically repaired right shoulder after allowing one hit in four innings, but four relievers held the Rockies hitless the rest of the way. The Mets have not allowed more than three hits in five straight games for the first time in franchise history.

Mike Pelfrey (7-6, 3.93 ERA), who is looking to extend his career-best winning streak to six games, limited the San Francisco Giants to three hits over seven innings in Tuesday's 7-0 victory. The 24-year-old righthander is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA over his last eight starts, and has not lost since May 26.

He hopes to take advantage of a suddenly cold Rockies' offense. Colorado entered the series tied with New York with an average of 6.90 runs in July, but lately the Rockies have struggled to score. Prior to Saturday's futility, they left the bases loaded three times in Friday's 2-1 loss to New York.

Mark Redman (2-4, 7.07) takes the mound Colorado. Redman, who has not won since April 16, allowed four runs and six hits in five innings of a 7-3 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. The lefthander has been filling in for Jeff Francis, who has been on the disabled list since June 29 with left shoulder inflammation.