Baseball Guru
06-25-2006, 10:15 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview?gid=260625114
Game Info: 12:07 pm EDT Sun Jun 25, 2006
TV: WPIX
By ANDY LEFKOWITZ, STATS Editor
Jose Reyes enjoyed established himself as a star for the New York Mets last year. He's proving to be even better this season.
Reyes will try to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, and the Mets look to rebound from a rare road loss when they close out a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
New York (46-28) saw its franchise-record nine-game road winning streak end with a 7-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday. Reyes, though, went 4-for-5 with a triple, his major league-leading 33rd stolen base and two runs.
"I feel so good. I'm seeing the ball so good. Hopefully, I'm going to keep it that way," said Reyes, who's batting .538 (28-for-52) during his hitting streak.
After injuries limited him to 53 games in 2004, the 23-year-old Reyes had a breakout season last year, leading the NL with 17 triples and 60 steals in 161 games. He had a career-best 20-game hitting streak from July 17-Aug. 7, and is batting .286 as the catalyst for a Mets lineup that has helped power the team to an 11-game lead in the NL East.
Vernon Wells homered twice Saturday for Toronto (41-33), winner of four of its last five. The center fielder, who reached the 20-homer mark for the fifth time in his career, has five multihomer games this season.
"I don't feel like I'm a home run hitter," Wells said. "You are just thankful for everyone you get."
The Mets will send Steve Trachsel (5-4, 4.87 ERA) to the mound as he looks to win four straight starts for the first time in nearly three years.
Trachsel has not been spectacular over his last three outings, but has done enough to win each time despite allowing 11 runs and 20 hits with 10 walks over 17 1-3 innings. In New York's 9-2 win over Cincinnati on Tuesday, Trachsel also became the first Mets pitcher since Shawn Estes in 2002 to hit a homer.
"The home run was just a fluke," Trachsel said. "It was nice because I actually saw it."
Trachsel last won four consecutive starts from Aug. 7-23, 2003 en route to a career-high 16 victories with New York. He is 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays.
Josh Towers (1-8, 8.76) makes his second start for Toronto since being recalled from the minor leagues last Sunday. He struggled in his return Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing four runs and six hits -- including a long home run to Andruw Jones -- over 5 1-3 innings, and did not get a decision in Toronto's 6-5 win.
After the game, Toronto manager John Gibbons said he expected Towers' return to the majors to be a lengthy one.
"As far as I know ... he'll pitch again Sunday," Gibbons said. "I expect him to be good."
Towers has not allowed fewer than three runs in any of his 11 starts this season. While winning a career-high 13 games last year, he gave up fewer than three runs 20 times in 33 starts.
The right-hander is 3-7 with a 4.80 ERA in interleague play, but won his only career start against the Mets. While with Baltimore, he pitched seven innings for a 5-2 win on June 14, 2001.
Game Info: 12:07 pm EDT Sun Jun 25, 2006
TV: WPIX
By ANDY LEFKOWITZ, STATS Editor
Jose Reyes enjoyed established himself as a star for the New York Mets last year. He's proving to be even better this season.
Reyes will try to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, and the Mets look to rebound from a rare road loss when they close out a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
New York (46-28) saw its franchise-record nine-game road winning streak end with a 7-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday. Reyes, though, went 4-for-5 with a triple, his major league-leading 33rd stolen base and two runs.
"I feel so good. I'm seeing the ball so good. Hopefully, I'm going to keep it that way," said Reyes, who's batting .538 (28-for-52) during his hitting streak.
After injuries limited him to 53 games in 2004, the 23-year-old Reyes had a breakout season last year, leading the NL with 17 triples and 60 steals in 161 games. He had a career-best 20-game hitting streak from July 17-Aug. 7, and is batting .286 as the catalyst for a Mets lineup that has helped power the team to an 11-game lead in the NL East.
Vernon Wells homered twice Saturday for Toronto (41-33), winner of four of its last five. The center fielder, who reached the 20-homer mark for the fifth time in his career, has five multihomer games this season.
"I don't feel like I'm a home run hitter," Wells said. "You are just thankful for everyone you get."
The Mets will send Steve Trachsel (5-4, 4.87 ERA) to the mound as he looks to win four straight starts for the first time in nearly three years.
Trachsel has not been spectacular over his last three outings, but has done enough to win each time despite allowing 11 runs and 20 hits with 10 walks over 17 1-3 innings. In New York's 9-2 win over Cincinnati on Tuesday, Trachsel also became the first Mets pitcher since Shawn Estes in 2002 to hit a homer.
"The home run was just a fluke," Trachsel said. "It was nice because I actually saw it."
Trachsel last won four consecutive starts from Aug. 7-23, 2003 en route to a career-high 16 victories with New York. He is 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays.
Josh Towers (1-8, 8.76) makes his second start for Toronto since being recalled from the minor leagues last Sunday. He struggled in his return Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing four runs and six hits -- including a long home run to Andruw Jones -- over 5 1-3 innings, and did not get a decision in Toronto's 6-5 win.
After the game, Toronto manager John Gibbons said he expected Towers' return to the majors to be a lengthy one.
"As far as I know ... he'll pitch again Sunday," Gibbons said. "I expect him to be good."
Towers has not allowed fewer than three runs in any of his 11 starts this season. While winning a career-high 13 games last year, he gave up fewer than three runs 20 times in 33 starts.
The right-hander is 3-7 with a 4.80 ERA in interleague play, but won his only career start against the Mets. While with Baltimore, he pitched seven innings for a 5-2 win on June 14, 2001.