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New York Mets appear to finally be showing signs of reaching high expectations. So has Mike Pelfrey.
The highly-touted young pitcher will attempt to win his sixth consecutive start and extend the Mets' current tear of eight straight victories when he takes the mound in tonight's finale of a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies from Shea Stadium.
The Mets selected Pelfrey with the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft and envisioned the Wichita State product quickly emerging into a frontline starter. But he struggled in his first extended look in the big leagues last season, losing his first seven decisions and finishing with a subpar 3-8 record and 5.57 earned run average in 15 games (13 starts).
Pelfrey didn't show much improvement over the early part of this season, producing a 2-6 record with a 5.33 ERA through his first nine starts. However, the 24-year-old has really turned things around over the last few weeks.
Over his last eight starts, Pelfrey has gone 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA and allowed two runs or less in six of those games. The right-hander came through with a dominating performance against San Francisco on Tuesday in which he yielded just three hits and walked none in seven shutout innings.
Prior to that outing, Pelfrey tossed seven innings of one-run ball to defeat St. Louis on July 3. He also has a victory over Colorado during his win streak, having thrown 5 2/3 scoreless frames in a June 22 triumph at Coors Field.
Pelfrey was rocked for six runs and eight hits in just three innings during a loss to Colorado at Shea Stadium last season, his first career appearance against the Rockies.
He'll be trying to duplicate an excellent showing by the Mets' pitching staff on Saturday, when five New York pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 triumph over Colorado.
The news wasn't all good for the Mets, however. Starter Pedro Martinez left the contest after just four innings after experiencing tightness in his right shoulder. The team did state after the game that Martinez, who missed most of last season recovering from shoulder surgery, was removed for precautionary reasons and that the injury isn't believed to be serious.
Carlos Muniz (1-1) stepped in for Martinez and was credited with his first major league win after tossing two scoreless frames. All-Star closer Billy Wagner finished off the one-hitter with a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.
Jose Reyes smacked a solo homer for the red-hot Mets, while Fernando Tatis and Brian Schneider also drove in runs on the afternoon.
The eight-game win streak has catapulted New York within one half-game of rival Philadelphia for first place in the tightly-bunched National League East standings, with Florida currently tied with the Mets in second. New York has not ripped off nine straight victories since April 16-25, 2000.
Colorado's lone hit came on a Brad Hawpe single in the fourth inning.
Ubaldo Jimenez (4-9) was hit with the loss after allowing three runs over six innings, although the Rockies starter did struck out eight batters.
Saturday's setback dropped Colorado to a major league-worst 14-35 on the road this season. The defending NL champions have lost 10 of their last 12 as the visitor.
The Rockies have also had major troubles in Shea Stadium over the years, as the Mets have won 17 of their last 19 matchups with Colorado in New York. These teams also split six games held at Coors Field earlier this season.
Mark Redman gets the nod for Colorado tonight and makes his third start since replacing the injured Jeff Francis in the Rockies' rotation. The lefty journeyman is coming off a loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday in a game he was matched up with new Brewers acquistion C.C. Sabathia.
Redman gave up four runs on six hits over five innings in the 7-3 setback to Milwaukee. That followed a no-decision at home to Florida on July 3, with the soft-tossing southpaw giving up just two runs over a solid six innings of work.
The 34-year-old began this season as one of the Rockies' starting five but was banished to Triple-A Colorado Springs after recording a 7.84 ERA in six starts plus one relief appearance.
Redman has made seven career starts against the Mets but owns just a 1-4 record with a 4.64 ERA versus New York.
