Nymet31
08-28-2003, 03:38 PM
ATLANTA -- Al Leiter seeks his 13th win when he takes the hill in the rubber game of this three-game series Thursday night at Turner Field.
The crafty left-hander is coming off a tough 2-1 loss in his last start (6 IP, 2R, 6H) Aug. 21 at Los Angeles, but is 4-2 over his last six starts. A win would tie Steve Trachsel for most wins on the staff.
Against the Braves in 2003 Leiter is 1-0 with a no-decision, beating the Braves, 10-4, at Shea Stadium on June 1 (6 IP, 7H, 4ER), but earning a no-decision in an 11-8 loss July 20 (5IP, 3H, 2R), a game in which he left with a 5-2 lead. For his career, Leiter is 8-9 with a 2.34 ERA (50 ER in 153 IP). At Turner Field, he is 2-4, with a 2.91 ERA (21 ER in 65 IP).
Former Met Mike Hampton pitches for the Braves. Hampton, who has won eight straight decisions, is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against New York in 2003. He is 7-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 20 games against the Mets.
Thursday night's game is the final game between the Mets and Braves at Turner Field, where the Braves are 7-2. The two clubs finish their season series with a three-game series Sept. 1-3 at Shea Stadium.
Pitching matchup:
NY: LHP Al Leiter
12-7, 4.47 in 2003
1-0, 4.91 vs. ATL in 2003
8-9, 2.94 vs. ATL lifetime
ATL: LHP Mike Hampton
12-5, 4.10 in 2003
1-1, 1.38 vs. NYM in 2003
7-6, 2.26 vs. NY lifetime
Players to watch: Mike Piazza is hitting .306 (11-for-36) career against Hampton, with two doubles, three homers and a career .611 slugging percentage. ... Jay Bell is hitting .368 lifetime against Hampton with three doubles, three homers and a .684 slugging percentage. ... Leiter has held the Braves' 1-2 hitters, Rafael Furcal and Marcus Giles, to a combined .111 average (1-for-9) in 2003 and .191 (9-for-47) over his career. ... Leiter also has shackled Andruw Jones (.207, no homers) and Javy Lopez (.205, 3 HR).
Quotable: "It's not an overnight process. He had a little bit of a setback today. But he's going to keep going out there. It's a good opportunity to learn at this level, what he can do, what he can't do. Just continue to evolve and mature as a pitcher. He's getting a pretty good opportunity to do that against some good teams." -- Piazza on rookie Aaron Heilman
Quick hits:
Pedro Feliciano, making his first appearance since Aug. 6, left the game with a blister on his left hand prior to starting the bottom of the sixth. He's day-to-day.
Prentice Redman, who struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Wednesday night's game and right-handed pitcher Jason Anderson was recalled
The crafty left-hander is coming off a tough 2-1 loss in his last start (6 IP, 2R, 6H) Aug. 21 at Los Angeles, but is 4-2 over his last six starts. A win would tie Steve Trachsel for most wins on the staff.
Against the Braves in 2003 Leiter is 1-0 with a no-decision, beating the Braves, 10-4, at Shea Stadium on June 1 (6 IP, 7H, 4ER), but earning a no-decision in an 11-8 loss July 20 (5IP, 3H, 2R), a game in which he left with a 5-2 lead. For his career, Leiter is 8-9 with a 2.34 ERA (50 ER in 153 IP). At Turner Field, he is 2-4, with a 2.91 ERA (21 ER in 65 IP).
Former Met Mike Hampton pitches for the Braves. Hampton, who has won eight straight decisions, is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against New York in 2003. He is 7-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 20 games against the Mets.
Thursday night's game is the final game between the Mets and Braves at Turner Field, where the Braves are 7-2. The two clubs finish their season series with a three-game series Sept. 1-3 at Shea Stadium.
Pitching matchup:
NY: LHP Al Leiter
12-7, 4.47 in 2003
1-0, 4.91 vs. ATL in 2003
8-9, 2.94 vs. ATL lifetime
ATL: LHP Mike Hampton
12-5, 4.10 in 2003
1-1, 1.38 vs. NYM in 2003
7-6, 2.26 vs. NY lifetime
Players to watch: Mike Piazza is hitting .306 (11-for-36) career against Hampton, with two doubles, three homers and a career .611 slugging percentage. ... Jay Bell is hitting .368 lifetime against Hampton with three doubles, three homers and a .684 slugging percentage. ... Leiter has held the Braves' 1-2 hitters, Rafael Furcal and Marcus Giles, to a combined .111 average (1-for-9) in 2003 and .191 (9-for-47) over his career. ... Leiter also has shackled Andruw Jones (.207, no homers) and Javy Lopez (.205, 3 HR).
Quotable: "It's not an overnight process. He had a little bit of a setback today. But he's going to keep going out there. It's a good opportunity to learn at this level, what he can do, what he can't do. Just continue to evolve and mature as a pitcher. He's getting a pretty good opportunity to do that against some good teams." -- Piazza on rookie Aaron Heilman
Quick hits:
Pedro Feliciano, making his first appearance since Aug. 6, left the game with a blister on his left hand prior to starting the bottom of the sixth. He's day-to-day.
Prentice Redman, who struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Wednesday night's game and right-handed pitcher Jason Anderson was recalled