GaryMrMets
09-08-2005, 01:55 PM
Mets-Cardinals Preview
.c The Associated Press
GAME: New York Mets (70-69) at St. Louis Cardinals (88-52).
TIME: Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT.
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter looks to become the majors' first 21-game winner when he faces the fading New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series at Busch Stadium.
Carpenter became baseball's first 20-game winner with a complete game 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Florida's Dontrelle Willis posted his 20th win Wednesday.
Carpenter, emerging as a clear favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, remains focused on the task at hand.
``Everybody was excited for me. Like I said, 20's a big number,'' Carpenter said. ``But I've got five (starts) left. I think about the rest of the season, and get prepared for New York on Thursday.''
Carpenter struck out eight and allowed eight hits while throwing 120 pitches in his major league-leading seventh complete game, the 20th of his career. He won his 12th straight decision over 15 starts.
The major league-leading Cardinals are coming off a series loss to the Cubs, losing two of three to Chicago after a 2-1 defeat Wednesday night.
But things are much worse for the Mets, who are seeing their slim playoff hopes slip away.
New York fell five games behind in the NL wild-card race after Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss at Atlanta.
The Mets dropped 10 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East after squandering leads of 2-1 in the ninth and 3-2 in the 10th.
The Mets lost for the ninth time in 11 games and fell to 4-19 in the regular season at Turner Field in September and October, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
STANDINGS: Mets - 5th place, 10 1/2 GB, NL East. Cardinals - 1st place, NL Central.
METS PROBABLE STARTER: Kris Benson (9-6, 3.99 ERA). The right-hander is winless in his last three starts, and has been ineffective in each, allowing 13 runs in just 13 innings over that span. Benson has pitched well against the Cardinals in his career, going 7-4 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 starts.
CARDINALS PROBABLE STARTER: Carpenter (20-4, 2.28 ERA). Carpenter has never beaten the Mets, going 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in two career starts.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Mets - David Wright, .316 avg., 87 RBIs and 86 runs; Cliff Floyd, 29 HRs; Jose Reyes, 50 SBs. Cardinals - Albert Pujols, .337 avg., 37 HRs, 104 RBIs and 114 runs; Pujols and Reggie Sanders, 14 SBs.
SEASON SERIES: Cardinals, 2-1.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Mets - OF Carlos Beltran is hitting .188 (3-for-16) in his career against RHP Carpenter. ... After starting the year 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA, RHP Benson is 3-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break. ... 1B Jose Offerman is hitting .366 (15-for-41) in his career against Carpenter. Cardinals - OF Jim Edmonds is hitting .400 (10-for-25) in his career against Benson. ... Carpenter is 2 2-3 innings away from his career-high of 215 2-3 in 2001 with Toronto. ... 1B Pujols is hitting .269 (7-for-26) with two home runs and five RBIs in his career against Benson.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mets - 29-42 on the road; Cardinals - 42-26 at home.
INJURIES: Mets - C Mike Piazza (wrist), 15-day DL; OF Mike Cameron (facial fracture), 60-day DL; RHP Bartolome Fortunato (back), 60-day DL; LHP Felix Heredia (shoulder), 60-day DL; RHP Tyler Yates (shoulder), 60-day DL. Cardinals - 3B Scott Rolen (shoulder), 15-day DL; OF Reggie Sanders (leg), 15-day DL; RHP Mike Lincoln (elbow), 15-day DL.
09/08/05 06:37 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
GAME: New York Mets (70-69) at St. Louis Cardinals (88-52).
TIME: Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT.
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter looks to become the majors' first 21-game winner when he faces the fading New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series at Busch Stadium.
Carpenter became baseball's first 20-game winner with a complete game 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Florida's Dontrelle Willis posted his 20th win Wednesday.
Carpenter, emerging as a clear favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, remains focused on the task at hand.
``Everybody was excited for me. Like I said, 20's a big number,'' Carpenter said. ``But I've got five (starts) left. I think about the rest of the season, and get prepared for New York on Thursday.''
Carpenter struck out eight and allowed eight hits while throwing 120 pitches in his major league-leading seventh complete game, the 20th of his career. He won his 12th straight decision over 15 starts.
The major league-leading Cardinals are coming off a series loss to the Cubs, losing two of three to Chicago after a 2-1 defeat Wednesday night.
But things are much worse for the Mets, who are seeing their slim playoff hopes slip away.
New York fell five games behind in the NL wild-card race after Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss at Atlanta.
The Mets dropped 10 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East after squandering leads of 2-1 in the ninth and 3-2 in the 10th.
The Mets lost for the ninth time in 11 games and fell to 4-19 in the regular season at Turner Field in September and October, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
STANDINGS: Mets - 5th place, 10 1/2 GB, NL East. Cardinals - 1st place, NL Central.
METS PROBABLE STARTER: Kris Benson (9-6, 3.99 ERA). The right-hander is winless in his last three starts, and has been ineffective in each, allowing 13 runs in just 13 innings over that span. Benson has pitched well against the Cardinals in his career, going 7-4 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 starts.
CARDINALS PROBABLE STARTER: Carpenter (20-4, 2.28 ERA). Carpenter has never beaten the Mets, going 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in two career starts.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Mets - David Wright, .316 avg., 87 RBIs and 86 runs; Cliff Floyd, 29 HRs; Jose Reyes, 50 SBs. Cardinals - Albert Pujols, .337 avg., 37 HRs, 104 RBIs and 114 runs; Pujols and Reggie Sanders, 14 SBs.
SEASON SERIES: Cardinals, 2-1.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Mets - OF Carlos Beltran is hitting .188 (3-for-16) in his career against RHP Carpenter. ... After starting the year 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA, RHP Benson is 3-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break. ... 1B Jose Offerman is hitting .366 (15-for-41) in his career against Carpenter. Cardinals - OF Jim Edmonds is hitting .400 (10-for-25) in his career against Benson. ... Carpenter is 2 2-3 innings away from his career-high of 215 2-3 in 2001 with Toronto. ... 1B Pujols is hitting .269 (7-for-26) with two home runs and five RBIs in his career against Benson.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mets - 29-42 on the road; Cardinals - 42-26 at home.
INJURIES: Mets - C Mike Piazza (wrist), 15-day DL; OF Mike Cameron (facial fracture), 60-day DL; RHP Bartolome Fortunato (back), 60-day DL; LHP Felix Heredia (shoulder), 60-day DL; RHP Tyler Yates (shoulder), 60-day DL. Cardinals - 3B Scott Rolen (shoulder), 15-day DL; OF Reggie Sanders (leg), 15-day DL; RHP Mike Lincoln (elbow), 15-day DL.
09/08/05 06:37 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.