Tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET the New York Mets (25-28) and Philadelphia Phillies (23-28) will come together at Citizens Bank Ballpark in a clash between heated rivals sharing the National League East cellar. Live stream the game by clicking this link; Mets fans can hear the game on 710 WOR, while Phillies fans may do the same on 1210 WPHT. The Mets will send rookie pitcher Rafael Montero (0-2, 4.96 ERA) while Philadelphia counters with A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.51 ERA).
Mets pitching has powered a three-game winning streak, and not just the arms in the starting rotation. The bullpen has received a shot in the arm from new closer Jenrry Mejia, who combined with Vic Black in New York's most recent game to strike out seven batters and shut the door.
"That's pretty impressive," manager Terry Collins said. Still, the Mets offense has left much to be desired this season, which Collins hopes will change with an uptick from outfielder Chris Young. He's got to get on track, and the home run was really big for him," Collins said of Young's home run last night. "He's hit some balls hard with nothing to show for it, so I think tonight's a big game."
Once an NL East powerhouse, the Phillies batting woes have been just as pronounced as the Mets. "So far, we haven't put it together," catcher Carlos Ruiz said. "We have to fix that. We have to stay strong, come out tomorrow with a different mentality."
One solution would be production out of Domonic Brown, a breakout start of 2013 who has utterly failed to carry the momentum over. "He gets pitches to hit and he fouls them off," manager Ryne Sandberg said.
"Before you know it, he's got two strikes. Then they're expanding the zone and he's having a hard time laying off those pitches in that situation. I see him getting fastballs. I see him getting pitches away. I see him getting pitches in. He's just not connecting on his pitch."
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