IGT #127 Philly's a dirty place, let's sweep it.

[Ceetar]

Niese looks to Harang the Phillies tonight at 7:05.

[Lefty Specialist]

Let's finish the job, guys.

[Guest themetfairy]

Why isn't this a day game?

The fourth game of a four game series in late August should be a day game.

[Frayed Knot]

Because there's little travel involved for the upcoming series.
Phils stay at home, Mets go 100 miles north.

[Centerfield]

If you can call the environment the Phils have played in the last 3 games as "home".

[Guest themetfairy]

Understood. But as summer is slipping away, I could really use one last midweek day game.

[TransMonk]

Alas, there are no more mid-week day games left this regular season, IIRC.

Monday, September 7th is a 1:05 start at Washington, but that is Labor Day.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Funny, I thought this was a day game...

NY Mets at Philadelphia
When: 7:05 PM ET, Thursday, August 27, 2015
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SportsDirect Inc.

Michael Cuddyer and the New York Mets have feasted on the Philadelphia Phillies this season. Cuddyer looks to continue his good fortune as the Mets attempt to complete a four-game sweep of Philadelphia for the first time since Sept. 6-9, 2002, when the National League East rivals meet at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday.

Cuddyer drove in three runs in New York's 9-4 triumph on Wednesday to improve to 7-for-10 with two homers and six RBIs in the series. The offseason acquisition has flustered Philadelphia throughout 2015, going 19-for-37 (.514) with 12 RBIs as the Mets have outscored the Phillies 74-38 en route to winning 11 of the 12 meetings. New York has erupted for 64 runs on 16 homers to emerge victorious in six straight overall and seize a season-high 6 1/2-game lead over second-place Washington. Philadelphia has once again made itself at home in the cellar, but Andres Blanco has been one of the few bright spots by batting .400 (14-for-35) with seven runs scored during his nine-game hitting streak.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSN Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (8-9, 3.80 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Harang (5-14, 4.67)

Niese improved to 3-0 in his last five outings on Saturday despite permitting seven runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 14-9 triumph over Colorado. The seven runs allowed matched the sum total of the previous four starts (26 innings) for the 28-year-old. Niese improved to 10-6 in his career versus Philadelphia after yielding just three runs in 13 1/3 innings to post wins on April 15 and May 9, respectively.

Harang deserved a better fate on Sunday after allowing just two runs on as many hits in seven innings of a no-decision against Miami. The 37-year-old didn't permit a homer in that contest, but has been taken deep 14 times in his previous 12 games - during which he has limped to a 1-11 mark. Harang has lost both meetings with the Mets this season despite allowing just four runs on 12 hits in 13 innings.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York is batting .357 as a team with 27 doubles during its winning streak.
2. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard is 5-for-13 with two homers, five RBIs and four runs scored in the series.
3. While the majority of his team has prospered at the plate, Mets RF Curtis Granderson is just 1-for-8 in the series.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Hernandez, 2B
Blanco, 3B
Herrera, CF
Francoeur, RF
Altherr, LF
Ruf, 1B
Ruiz, C
Galvis, SS
Harang, P

[Benjamin Grimm]

I used to know who the Phillies were, but that's a pretty unfamiliar looking lineup. I appreciate that Ryan Howard is getting the day off.

[Edgy MD]

It's funny to go from the Pedro Feliciano days of "Ryan Howard is a frighteningly dangerous offensive force, but we've sure got his number," to "Ryan Howard is an institutional anchor keeping this team stuck and swamped by stormy waters, but he's sure got our number."

Not funny funny, but funny.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson, RF
Cespedes, CF
Murphy, 1B
Wright, 3B
Johnson, 2B
d'Arnaud, C
Conforto, LF
Tejada, SS
Niese, P

[Edgy MD]

Rob Manfred in the Phillie booth as the Francouers take a 2-0 lead. Three...

[Edgy MD]

Oh, blub, now we've got a real hole.

[Lefty Specialist]

Vintage Niese, letting a bad inning snowball on him.

[Edgy MD]

I blame Manfred.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ummm... Go Padres?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: I blame Manfred.

I blame Soupcan

[Frayed Knot]

In the transition from the hitting poor team in the first half to the tops in the majors offense in the second and all the reasons for it (Cespedes, Conforto, Johns-ribe, etc) the 'swap' of Plawecki to d'Arnaud is being overlooked as a major factor.

[Zvon]

Frayed Knot wrote: In the transition from the hitting poor team in the first half to the tops in the majors offense in the second and all the reasons for it (Cespedes, Conforto, Johns-ribe, etc) the 'swap' of Plawecki to d'Arnaud is being overlooked as a major factor.

Not by me. And obviously you.
I expected gappers from him (I think I said he'd be a doubles machine) but not the long ball.Some of these homers are looking effortless and going very far.

[Zvon]

CespedaBOOM!

[Zvon]

KellyBOOM!

5-5 Mets

[Edgy MD]

WoW!

It's about time Kelly Johnson joined this circus.

[soupcan]

Hot Damn! This team is something else!

[Edgy MD]

Walking Francoeur. Nevoeur a good sign.

[Zvon]

Who invented the double play? I want to thank that man.

[Edgy MD]

Tejada returning the double-play blessings. Damn.

Mets down 5-0 when I left work. Come home to see a game-tying homer? I don't deserve this.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

These guys are awesome. Subpar starting pitching only inspires them to score more.

[Lefty Specialist]

I've never seen a team able to flip on the switch like this. Not just a Mets team; I mean ANY team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is going to be a battle of the bullpens, I think. I'm hoping that Gilmartin and Verrett are available.