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Mets look to continue torrid pace vs. Cardinals

Jul 25, 2008 - 10:09 AM St. Louis (57-47) at New York (55-47) 7:05 pm. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Pedro Martinez's latest start has been put on hold, so the New York Mets hand the ball to their hottest pitcher instead.

Mike Pelfrey takes the mound looking to notch his seventh straight winning decision on Friday as the Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 36-year-old Martinez skipped his last start due to tightness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, and then left the team to be with his family in the Dominican Republic after his father passed away on Wednesday. The Mets happily hand the ball to Pelfrey (8-6, 3.81 ERA), their best starter over the last month.

However, the 24-year-old righthander is looking to rebound from a sub-par effort in which he allowed five runs and six hits in seven innings of a 7-5 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday. Prior to that, Pelfrey had been 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA in July.

Pelfrey will try and follow a dominant effort from Oliver Perez. The lefty threw 7 2/3 outstanding innings of six-hit ball while striking out 12 and Carlos Delgado hit a tie-breaking two-run double in a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. The victory moved the Mets, who have won 13 of 16, into first place in the National League East for the first time since April 19.

The Mets will try and rough up rookie Mitchell Boggs (3-1, 6.59), again. Boggs, who was recalled from Class AAA Memphis of the Pacific Coast League on Monday, was pounded for 11 runs - 10 earned - and 11 hits in six innings of a 11-1 loss to the Mets in his last start on July 3.

St. Louis is looking to rebound after being swept in a four-game series by the Milwaukee Brewers. Ryan Franklin allowed a go-ahead, two-run homer to Ryan Braun in a 4-3 loss on Thursday.