IGT 122 Rock them up, knock them down

[Ceetar]

8:05 game time. Niese vs. Rusin.

on WPIX.

[Edgy MD]

When the story of 2015 is written, let the part about Niese turning his season around not be forgotten.

[TransMonk]

2.88 ERA in 13 starts since June 1. Bravo, Jon.

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Colorado
When: 8:10 PM ET, Saturday, August 22, 2015
Where: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
SportsDirect Inc.

The New York Mets hope for more fireworks from Yoenis Cespedes when they continue their three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Saturday. Cespedes put on a power display in the opener, belting three home runs - including a grand slam - and driving in seven runs while scoring five times during a 5-for-6 performance in a 14-9 triumph.

Travis d'Arnaud and Michael Conforto also went deep as the Mets improved to 2-1 on their nine-game road trip. New York increased its lead over second-place Washington in the National League East to five games as it defeated Colorado for the fifth time in as many meetings this season. The Mets have outscored the Rockies 37-14 in 2015 and have reached double digits in each of the last two encounters. Nolan Arenado went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs while Carlos Gonzalez and Ben Paulsen also homered in the slugfest for Colorado, which fell to 2-5 on its nine-game homestand.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jon Niese (7-9, 3.50 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Chris Rusin (4-5, 3.99)

Niese's unbeaten streak reached four starts last Saturday, when he allowed three runs and five hits in six innings of a no-decision against Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old native of Ohio has given up seven runs in 26 frames while going 2-0 during his run. Niese improved to 2-3 with a 4.65 ERA in eight career outings versus Colorado by limiting the Rockies to two runs over seven innings in a home win on Aug. 10.

Rusin is coming off the best outing of his career, a five-hit shutout against San Diego on Sunday in which he walked one and struck out four. The victory was the first since June 21 for the 28-year-old Detroit native, who had gone eight starts without a win. Rusin made his first start against the Mets in New York on Aug. 11, when he suffered a hard-luck loss despite giving up one run in six innings.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Arenado joined Vinny Castilla (six times) as the only third basemen in Rockies history to hit 30 home runs in a season.
2. New York 3B David Wright (spinal stenosis) went 3-for-4 for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday and will conclude his rehab assignment Saturday as he is expected to join the Mets for their game at Philadelphia on Monday.
3. Colorado C Nick Hundley has recorded two three-hit performances in his last four games.

[ashie62]

Juan Lagares, CF

Curtis Granderson, RF

Yoenis Cespedes, LF

Juan Uribe, 3B

Michael Cuddyer, 1B

Wilmer Flores, 2B

Travis d'Arnaud, C

Ruben Tejada, SS

Jon Niese, P



Charlie Blackmon, CF

Jose Reyes, SS

Carlos Gonzalez, RF

Nolan Arenado, 3B

DJ LeMahieu, 2B

Matt McBride, 1B

Nick Hundley, C

Kyle Parker, LF

Chris Rusin, LHP

[Edgy MD]

Welcome back, Ruben. I was starting to worry about you.

[Ceetar]

The7Line game again.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I don't follow them, have they become that big?

[ashie62]

Geeez Lagares can't catch this year.

When David comes back send down Lagares, not Conforto.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Duda on DL may change things.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Pheew, Phlowers.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Everybody hits!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I hope for Rusin's sake that the clubhouse showers don't have any straight razors in them.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Creepy Phillies hat guy not there tonight, that I can tell. Librarian Met fan chixx in the front row, looks like.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Gelbs selling Coach Cuddy tee shirts...

[Guest d'Kong76]

Keith, a Jeter move is derogatory.

[Fman99]

I thought a "Jeter move" meant giving cold sores and bouquets of flowers to attractive Manhattanites post coitus.

[Frayed Knot]

Good Lawd it's still just the 4th inning!!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We need to punish these guys for the Payton-Reed trade.

[Fman99]

Yo-Anus with another ribeye. And the hits keep coming!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Only the 5th, we may get another Unicorn Game!

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Good Lawd it's still just the 4th inning!!

Yes, but Niese has thrown over 70 pitches. I wonder how may relievers will be used protecting this lead.

Later

[Edgy MD]

The d'Arnaud/Garneau thing is funny.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Leads evaporate in Denver.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Still winning by a touchdown, but ya know what I'm sayin'....

[Fman99]

Goofy park. It's 14-7 now, are we at halftime yet?

[Fman99]

Eric O'Flaherty, still sucking O'Ass against righties.

[Edgy MD]

How are the Packers doing against Washington out at FedEx Field?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Time to stretch...
[youtube:2z3w5b4x]wgqCXQ6GY9o[/youtube:2z3w5b4x]

[Edgy MD]

Hey, Mets fans on Twitter... his name is Conforto. With an N. Not "Comforto." He's an outfielder, not a Mexican mattress.