New York @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 7, 2010 ) NY Mets 1, Philadelphia 0
The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have benefited from strong efforts in the eighth inning to record one win apiece in the first two contests of their three-game series.
On Friday, Carlos Ruiz, Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins and Mike Sweeney had RBI singles in the six-run eighth as Philadelphia (61-49) secured its 12th straight home win with a 7-5 triumph.
Trailing by a score of 2-1, the Phillies reached base safely in their first seven at-bats in the eighth and sent 11 batters to the plate to turn the tide.
The following night, closer Francisco Rodriguez worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the pivotal frame to preserve the Mets' 1-0 lead en route to a five-out save.
The stellar effort allowed Johan Santana to avenge his career-worst start against the Phillies earlier in the season as New York (55-55) notched its 15th shutout victory in 2010.
The setback snapped a five-game winning streak for Philadelphia, which also fell two games back of National League East-leading Atlanta. The Braves posted a 3-0 triumph over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
Now, what's in store in Sunday's rubber match of the series? Well, Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay (13-8, 2.17 ERA) and New York sinkerballer R.A. Dickey (7-4, 2.36 ERA) will have something to say about that.
Halladay has recorded three straight wins in as many outings - striking out nine in all three contests. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed just two runs and 16 hits in 24 innings during that stretch.
In his last outing, Halladay permitted one run and five hits in seven innings as the Phillies cruised to a 6-1 triumph over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday. He also was dominant in his lone start against the Mets, allowing three hits in a 10-0 shutout on May 1.
Halladay will have to keep a keen eye on Jeff Francoeur, who belted his second game-winning home run in four contests on Saturday when he deposited a changeup from left-hander Cole Hamels over the right-field wall for his 11th home run of the season.
The 26-year-old Francoeur also launched a solo homer in the ninth inning on Tuesday as the Mets posted a 3-2 triumph over his former team, the Braves.
For his part, the knuckleballer is like Halladay in the sense that he has also permitted just two runs in his last three starts - although he only has one win and two no-decisions to show for it. The 35-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and five hits in six innings en route to a no-decision on Tuesday.
Dickey won his lone start against Philadelphia, tossing six scoreless innings while permitting seven hits and striking out seven in an 8-0 triumph on May 25.