Sep 4, 2007, 15:21 GMT
- The NL East-leading New York Mets are back on track and own a comfortable lead again in the division standings. Tonight the Mets will try to extend their lead even more in the second test of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
After losing five in a row, including a four-game set in Philadelphia, the Mets swept Atlanta in three games before recording a 10-4 victory against Cincinnati on Monday afternoon. New York received a huge boost with the return of starting pitcher Pedro Martinez, who recorded the win with five solid innings. He gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and recorded the 3,000th strikeout of his career. Martinez was out since late last season after undergoing right rotator cuff surgery.
Moises Alou, David Wright and Carlos Delgado homered for the NL East-leading Mets, who banged out 16 hits and expanded their lead to five games in the division over Philadelphia, which lost 5-1 at Atlanta Monday afternoon.
Taking the hill for the Mets this evening will be Oliver Perez, who is 12-9 with a 3.39 ERA in 24 starts this season. Perez had a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0) come to an end his last time out on August 29 against Philadelphia. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss.
The left-hander will try to improve on his career record versus Cincinnati, as he is 7-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 starts against the Reds. Perez defeated the Reds on July 15 this season, holding them to two runs in six innings during a 5-2 victory at Shea Stadium.
Cincinnati lost for the fourth straight time on Monday and had a six-game home winning streak broken. Reds ace Aaron Harang was charged with 10 hits, including a pair of homers, and six runs over 5 2/3 innings for the loss. Brandon Phillips and Alex Gonzalez each had two hits and an RBI in a losing cause.
Matt Belisle will take on the Mets tonight and he is 7-8 with a 5.33 earned run average in 25 starts this season. Belisle is unbeaten in his last four starts (2-0) and did not factor in the outcome of a 5-4 win at Pittsburgh on August 30. He surrendered a pair of runs and seven hits in five innings.
The righty is 0-0 with a 1.04 ERA in two career games (one start) against New York. Belisle faced the Mets on July 14 this season and did not post a decision after yielding one run and nine hits in seven innings of a 2-1 setback.
New York won three of four games against Cincinnati from July 12-15 this season in the Big Apple. The Mets have won eight of the last 12 meetings with the Reds.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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