IGT 7/22, Dodgers at Mets

[Guest getalife]

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (43-52) at New York Mets (49-46).

TIME: Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT.

Victor Zambrano will try to help the New York Mets extend their winning streak to five games as they open a three-game series with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

Zambrano's 4-8 record this season doesn't do justice to just how effective he's been pitching the last two months.

In his last 10 starts, Zambrano is pitching to a 2.38 ERA, allowing more than two earned runs just twice in that span. However, he has just two wins during that stretch due to lack of run support. The Mets have scored two runs or fewer seven times in Zambrano's last 10 outings, and were blanked 3-0 by Atlanta in his last outing on Saturday.

''Every game for me is very important,'' Zambrano said. ''I always go back there to give the opportunity to the team to win the game.''

He's hoping the offense the Mets flashed Thursday will carry into Friday.

David Wright singled and doubled during a seven-run sixth inning as the Mets breezed to a 12-0 win over San Diego, completing a three-game sweep of the NL West-leading Padres.

The victory moved New York (49-46) three games above .500 for the first time since June 8. New York moved past Philadelphia into third place in the NL East, inching a bit closer to the two teams at the top in the division - Washington and Atlanta.

The Mets are 5-2 on a 10-game homestand.

''We've got to make a statement in the division, and we're in a position where we can't wait any longer,'' New York manager Willie Randolph said. ''We can still made some serious hay in the division.''

''Four (consecutive wins) is nice, but we've got to be able to do better than that.''

Los Angeles took two of three from Philadelphia, including Thursday's 1-0 win.

Odalis Perez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Jeff Kent drove in the only run in the first for the Dodgers, who have won two straight since losing eight of nine.

''It's a great game for us to win,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said.

Jeff Weaver will start for the Dodgers on Friday. He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, but has just one victory to show for it.

He allowed one run and five hits over seven innings against San Francisco on Sunday, but the Dodgers managed only one run while he was in the game, losing 5-1 after he left.

''My job is to go out there to keep us close,'' Weaver said. ''I just wish there were more wins to go along with it.''

Ex-Met Jason Phillips, who is nursing a sore left leg, said he expects to be able to catch Weaver on Friday night. It will be his first trip back to Shea Stadium since the Mets dealt him to Los Angeles for left-hander Kaz ishii at the end of spring training.

STANDINGS: Dodgers - 3rd place, 6 1/2 GB, NL West. Mets - 3rd place, 4 1/2 GB, NL East.

DODGERS PROBABLE STARTER: Zambrano (4-8, 3.51 ERA). Zambrano is 2-5 with a 3.91 ERA in eight starts at home this season. He has never faced the Dodgers.

METS PROBABLE STARTER: Weaver (7-8, 4.26 ERA). Weaver is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Dodgers - Kent, .303 avg., 16 HRs, 64 RBIs and 53 runs; Cesar Izturis, 7 SBs. Mets - Wright, .288 avg.; Cliff Floyd, 22 HRs and 57 RBIs; Jose Reyes, 55 runs and 28 SBs.

2004 SEASON SERIES: Tied, 3-3.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Dodgers - RHP Yhency Brazoban has 17 saves, tying the team's rookie record set by Steve Howe in 1980. ... The Dodgers have won two straight games for the first time since June 29 and July 1. ... 3B Oscar Robles is 30-for-73 (.411) in his last 17 games, lifting his average to .351. Mets - 3B Wright had two hits in his team's seven-run sixth inning on Thursday, making him the first Met to record two hits in an inning since Mike Cameron did it last Sept. 16 in the first inning against Atlanta. ... 1B Doug Mientkiewicz is hitting .542 (13-for-24) with six doubles, two triples and five RBIs in his career against RHP Weaver. ... In 12 starts, backup C Castro is batting .317 with eight runs, five doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Dodgers - 19-29 on the road; Mets - 29-20 at home.

INJURIES: Dodgers - RHP Eric Gagne (elbow), 15-day DL; CF Milton Bradley (finger), 15-day DL; LHP Wilson Alvarez (shoulder), 15-day DL; LHP Kelly Wunsch (ankle), 15-day DL; OF J.D. Drew (wrist), 15-day DL; C Paul Bako (knee), 60-day DL; RHP Darren Dreifort (shoulder), 60-day DL; 3B Jose Valentin (knee), 60-day DL. Mets - 2B Kaz Matsui (knee), 15-day DL; LHP Felix Heredia (shoulder), 15-day DL; RHP Bartolome Fortunato (back), 60-day DL; RHP Steve Trachsel (back), 60-day DL; RHP Tyler Yates (rotator cuff), 60-day DL.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Robles 6-3
Izturis 1B
Kent f-8
Ledee
Bono
Choi
Werth
Repko
Weaver

Reyes
Cameron
Beltran
Floyd
Wright
Piazza
Minky
Cairo
Zambrano

[Guest Edgy DC]

Plate blocked.
Piazza clocked.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Wow! What an arm on Repko.

And what a good job by Acta anticipating that throw.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Kentboom, 1-0 LAD

[Elster88]

Kent hits one into the Dodger bullpen and is booed as he rounds the bases. Finally, the Met fans booing when they should be.

[seawolf17]

Stoooopid Jeff Kent. I hate that guy.

[Elster88]

The Mets ain't hitting. Maybe we can use some of yesterday's runs.

[Elster88]

Phillips with a single that would've been a double to anyone else.

Groundout to Minky, who steps on first, throws the ball wide to right. Reyes taps it with his glove, but it trickles into left, and Phillips with his blinding speed is able to get to third.

Seeing eye single by Werth between Reyes and Wright to score him.

2-0 Dodgers.

[Elster88]

Piazza with a decent throw, but Werth steals second anyway.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Ugh. Zambrano's not sharp and Minky's error is making this look bad.

3-0 in the 4th.

[Elster88]

Steals third, I blame Zambrano for that one. Single for Weaver scores him. Ugh.

[Elster88]

Zambrano getting booed enough that they replay the sounds in the bottomo of the fourth. Who is it that's always saying they hate Met Fans? I'm starting to agree. Maybe I'm just being grumpy.

[Elster88]

Three up three down for the Mets in the bottom of the fourth.

First batter, grounder to Reyes. He caught it on the second hop and had to kind of rush the throw. One hopper, nice catch by MonkeyWrench with a stretch and scoop.

Line drive double down the left field line for Kent.

Sharp single up the middle for Ledee. First and third, one out. Peterson is talking to Zamby with his trademark hand on the left shoulder as Ralph reminds us that Peterson said he could fix him in ten minutes.

Kiner's throat sounds surprisingly clear today.

[seawolf17]

Jeff Weaver haunts my nightmares. He drives me nuts.

[Elster88]

Dribbler down the line to right for Phillips. Wright has to go to first, runner scores. Ho-hum. 4-0 Dodgers.

Double for Choi on a ball that Floyd cuts off, and the replay shows he was out. Runner scores. 5-0. Booing.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Ugly.

[Elster88]

Bell on to pitch. Single to center. WOW!!! Choi is slow, but he gets home. Decent throw by Beltran, and a nice effort by Mikey, but he just got in there.

[Elster88]

Minky with a two run Kaboom that lands over the 1969 "flag".

[Elster88]

Reyes singles.

Reyes running, Cammy hits a weak roller through the hole vacated by Kent. First and third no outs. Time for Carlos to step up.

[Elster88]

KABOOM!!! 6-5!!!!

[Elster88]

I like it when Beltran shoves the text back down my keyboard.

I'm so excited, I'll buy him a drink


3 quick outs to follow the homer. We got a game.

Dammit, I was just ready to leave too.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

back in this thing.

[Guest MiniKnight]

Who knew? The Mets could score 5 runs in two innings!

[Elster88]

Washington losing 5-0. Atlanta's game starts at 9:15.

The first 1-2-3 inning for a Met pitcher today. Padilla done it.

Warning track flyout for Minky. A hard grounder by Cairo eats Izturis up, and is ruled a single. Anderson hits one in the hole into left.

First and second, one out, and my heart is thumping.

Groundball to Choi, Anderson out at second.

[seawolf17]

From Sportsline:

Reyes ground-rule doubled to right, Cairo to third, Anderson out at second.
Reyes to first.

Huh?!?!

[Elster88]

]Reyes ground-rule doubled to right, Cairo to third, Anderson out at second. Reyes to first.

I have no idea what that's about. Simple fielder's choice, with no relay.

Cameron pops up.

Crap.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jim Tracy wrecked Kevin Collins' car, and ruined Collins' relationship with Tug McGraw to boot.

Just sayin' is all.

[Elster88]

Beltran with the dive into first. Can Willie whack him with a bat.

He woulda been out even if he ran through the bag.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

We really crapped our pants in the 8th. We need Mike to be a 9th inning Jukebox Hero.