New York @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) NY Mets 5, Philadelphia 7
Whether it's home cookin' or Pat's or Geno's cheesesteaks, the Philadelphia Phillies have certainly had a healthy appetite at home.
The Phillies (61-48) will look for a major league-best 13th consecutive victory at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday against the New York Mets (54-55) in the second of their three-game series. Philadelphia has matched the Chicago White Sox for the longest such streak in the majors this season.
On Friday, the Phillies extended the streak by reaching base safely with their first seven batters in a six-run eighth inning.
Carlos Ruiz, Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins and Mike Sweeney recorded RBI singles as Philadelphia notched its 13th victory in its last 15 games with a 7-5 triumph.
Trailing by a score of 2-1 to enter the inning, the Phillies sent 11 batters to the plate to turn the tide.
A few hours after defeating the Mets, Philadelphia moved to within one game of NL East-leading Atlanta after the Braves dropped a 3-2 decision in extra innings to the San Francisco Giants.
For their part, the Mets received RBI singles by Jose Reyes and Josh Thole, but still lost for the fourth time in their last five games and fell below .500 for the first time since May 23.
Philadelphia will look to continue its winning ways when it sends Cole Hamels to the mound on Saturday.
The 26-year-old southpaw has notched four consecutive no-decisions - including his last effort on Sunday. The 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings, but he also struck out 10 against the Washington Nationals.
Hamels will need to subdue Jeff Francoeur, who belted three hits on Friday and has enjoyed success against the hurler. Francoeur is 7-for-13 with a home run in his last two campaigns against Hamels.
The Mets will counter with ace Johan Santana (8-6, 3.20 ERA). The 31-year-old left-hander permitted four runs in seven innings, but dropped a 4-1 decision to the Braves despite fanning a season-high 11 batters on Monday.
A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana looked like anything but in his last outing against the Phillies. He allowed a career-high 10 runs and four home runs in an 11-5 loss on May 2.
Santana will have to contend with the hot hitting of Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz. Ibanez carries a 14-game hitting streak into the contest, while Ruiz has 14 RBIs in his last 10 games.