NL: HOUSTON (62-78) at NY METS (78-61) <h3>Division-leading Mets open crucial homestand vs. Astros</h3> <div class="pre">Houston (62-78) at NY Mets (78-61) 7:10 pm EDT</div> FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The New York Mets are well restedand ready for a critical homestand that will go a long way indeciding the National League East pennant race. New York opens a nine-game homestand against the Houston Astroson Friday as they look to move closer to winning their secondstraight division crown. The Mets had their season-high, five-game winning streak snappedon Wednesday in Cincinnati, but rested four starters in theprocess. Jose Reyes, Paul Lo Duca, Moises Alou and Shawn Greenall got the day off. Following the series with the Astros, the Mets host the Philliesand Braves and have a good opportunity to take complete controlof the division. The Mets lead the Phillies (73-66) by fivegames, while the Braves (71-69) are 7 1/2 games back. Rookie Mike Pelfrey (1-7, 5.43 ERA) gets the ball for the Metslooking to build upon a solid performance in which he picked uphis first win of the season. Pelfrey was nearly bumped out of the rotation when PedroMartinez returned, but has been given new life because OrlandoHernandez has a foot injury. On Saturday, the righthanderallowed just one run and a hit with seven strikeouts in sixinnings of a 5-1 win over Atlanta. Wandy Rodriguez (8-12, 4.49) takes the hill for Houston, whichhas lost six of nine and allowed five home runs in a 14-2 lossto Milwaukee on Wednesday. Rodriguez is coming off six scoreless innings in a 6-1 win atthe Chicago Cubs last Friday, but has just one win in his lastseven starts.
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON AT NY METS -- LINEUPS HOUSTON NY METS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Hunter Pence CF .330 14 56 Jose Reyes SS .292 10 49 Craig Biggio 2B .255 10 47 Luis Castillo 2B .287 1 11 Lance Berkman 1B .278 28 89 David Wright 3B .316 26 91 Carlos Lee LF .299 27 105 Carlos Beltran CF .281 27 89 Mark Loretta SS .271 2 33 Moises Alou LF .328 10 32 Luke Scott RF .257 17 62 Jeff Conine 1B .260 6 34 Ty Wigginton 3B .283 3 10 Paul Lo Duca C .269 7 41 Humberto Quintero C .231 0 1 Lastings Milledge RF .282 4 22 Wandy Rodriguez LHP .122 0 1 Mike Pelfrey RHP .067 0 0 (8-12, 4.49) (1-7, 5.43)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS WARMUPS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (8-12, 4.49) NYM - MIKE PELFREY (1-7, 5.43) UMPIRES: HP - DOUG EDDINGS 1B - MIKE EVERITT 2B - DANA DEMUTH 3B - KERWIN DANLEY WEATHER: 78 Degrees, clear WIND: 18 mph, right to left</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS STARTING BATS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ AND HUMBERTO QUINTERO NYM - MIKE PELFREY AND PAUL LO DUCA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.330, 14 HR, 56 RBI) C BIGGIO (.255, 10 HR, 47 RBI) L BERKMAN (.278, 28 HR, 89 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY LANCE BERKMAN (29) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF MIKE PELFREY. CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, NY METS 0 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.299, 27 HR, 105 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 1 1 0 NY METS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.292, 10 HR, 49 RBI) L CASTILLO (.287, 1 HR, 11 RBI) D WRIGHT (.316, 26 HR, 91 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS NY METS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .329 C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 4 1 1 1 0 2 0 BATTING: HR - L Berkman (29, 1st inning off M Pelfrey 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Berkman (90). 2-out RBI - L Berkman. Team LOB - 0. NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 C Beltran cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328 J Conine 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 1 -- 1 NY METS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Rodriguez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.49 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 5.50 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 1-0. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 4. UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin Danley. Weather: 78 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 1 1 0 NY METS 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.271, 2 HR, 33 RBI) L SCOTT (.257, 17 HR, 62 RBI) T WIGGINTON (.283, 3 HR, 10 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS NY METS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .329 C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 4 1 1 1 0 2 0 BATTING: HR - L Berkman (29, 1st inning off M Pelfrey 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Berkman (90). 2-out RBI - L Berkman. Team LOB - 0. NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328 J Conine 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 1 -- 1 NY METS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.46 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 5.50 Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 20-10; M Pelfrey 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 1-0; M Pelfrey 1-0. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 4; M Pelfrey 4. UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin Danley. Weather: 78 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 0 1 2 0 NY METS 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.328, 10 HR, 32 RBI) J CONINE (.260, 6 HR, 34 RBI) P LO DUCA (.269, 7 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS NY METS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .329 C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .119 Totals 7 1 2 1 1 2 3 BATTING: HR - L Berkman (29, 1st inning off M Pelfrey 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Berkman (90). 2-out RBI - L Berkman. GIDP - W Rodriguez. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - L Scott (3, 2nd base off M Pelfrey/P Lo Duca). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328 J Conine 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (L Castillo-J Conine). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 10 -- 1 NY METS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.46 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 5.40 HBP - H Quintero (by M Pelfrey). Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 20-10; M Pelfrey 31-17. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 1-0; M Pelfrey 4-0. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 4; M Pelfrey 9. UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin Danley. Weather: 78 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 0 1 2 0 NY METS 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.329, 0-FOR-1) C BIGGIO (.254, 0-FOR-1) L BERKMAN (.279, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS NY METS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .329 C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 L Berkman 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .119 Totals 7 1 2 1 1 2 3 BATTING: HR - L Berkman (29, 1st inning off M Pelfrey 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Berkman (90). 2-out RBI - L Berkman. GIDP - W Rodriguez. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - L Scott (3, 2nd base off M Pelfrey/P Lo Duca). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Conine 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 L Milledge rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 2 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (L Castillo-J Conine). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 10 -- 1 NY METS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Rodriguez 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.44 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 5.40 HBP - H Quintero (by M Pelfrey). Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 32-15; M Pelfrey 31-17. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 3-1; M Pelfrey 4-0. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 8; M Pelfrey 9. UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin Danley. Weather: 78 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARK LORETTA SCORED LANCE BERKMAN. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LORETTA ON SECOND, C LEE ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2 NY METS 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.259, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 0 1 2 5 0 NY METS 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR NY METS: M PELFREY (.067, 0 HR, 0 RBI) J REYES (.292, 0-FOR-1) L CASTILLO (.287, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">HOUSTON (2) VS NY METS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .328 C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .254 L Berkman 1b 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 .281 C Lee lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300 M Loretta ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .272 L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .259 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 .280 H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .119 Totals 13 2 5 2 2 3 6 BATTING: HR - L Berkman (29, 1st inning off M Pelfrey 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - L Berkman (90), M Loretta (34). 2-out RBI - L Berkman, M Loretta. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 2. GIDP - W Rodriguez. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - L Scott (3, 2nd base off M Pelfrey/P Lo Duca). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .315 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 J Conine 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 L Milledge rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 2 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (L Castillo-J Conine). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 101 -- 2 NY METS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era W Rodriguez 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.44 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 3 5 2 2 2 3 1 5.46 HBP - H Quintero (by M Pelfrey). Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 32-15; M Pelfrey 62-35. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 3-1; M Pelfrey 6-0. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 8; M Pelfrey 16. UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin Danley. Weather: 78 degrees, clear. Wind: 18 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY DAVID WRIGHT SCORED MIKE PELFREY. ERROR BY HUNTER PENCE ALLOWED LUIS CASTILLO TO SCORE. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D WRIGHT ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2 NY METS 2 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR NY METS: C BELTRAN (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY CARLOS BELTRAN SCORED DAVID WRIGHT. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C BELTRAN ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2 NY METS 3 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.326, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 1 0 1 2 5 1 NY METS 0 0 3 3 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ NYM - MIKE PELFREY DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H QUINTERO (.231, 0-FOR-0, HBP) W RODRIGUEZ (.119, 0-FOR-1) H PENCE (.328, 0-FOR-2)</div>
