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Hamels, Santana square off

Sep 7, 2008 - 1:06 PM Philadelphia at Ny Mets (2ND GAME) 8:05 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) --Tropical Storm Hanna tore through the East Coast on Saturday, leaving the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies to finish out their series in a day-night doubleheader on Sunday.

Cole Hamels and Johan Santana will give the national TV audience in the nightcap a premier pitching matchup to watch.

Hamels (12-8, 3.01 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last four starts, striking out 20 and issuing three walks. The 24-year-old lefthander has been a victim of poor support, pitching into the seventh inning while allowing three runs or less 10 times without earning a win.

He has not pitched against New York since April 18, when he surrendered five runs in seven innings to suffer a loss. In five career starts against the Mets, Hamels is 1-2 with a 3.27 ERA.

Santana (12-7, 2.71) has been as sharp recently, going 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA over his last nine outings. The highest-paid pitcher in the game into third in the NL in ERA and sixth in strikeouts with 169.

Santana has not suffered a loss since June 28 but has three no decisions against Philadelphia since July 4, allowing seven runs in 22 innings.