On the Mets beat

Good afternoon everyone. Marc here, hanging with you for a few hours as the Mets continue their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Don’t look now, but Pedro Martinez (3-2, 6.86 ERA) will look to help the Mets (49-44) capture their eighth straight win! In his last start, Martinez allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking three in 5 1/3 innings during a 10-9 win in Philadelphia on Monday. Ubaldo Jimenez (4-8, 4.21) is on the hill for the Rockies (39-55). He earned his first road victory on Monday when he scattered three hits, struck out seven and walked five in seven scoreless innings in a 4-3 win at Milwaukee.

Mets lineup

J. Reyes ss
A. Reyes 2b
D. Wright 3b
C. Beltran cf
F. Tatis lf
C. Delgado 1b
E. Chavez rf
B. Schneider c
P. Martinez p

Top 1st: Nice start to the game by Pedro, who fanned two (Podsednik and Holliday) and walked one (Barmes).

Bottom 1st: Quick inning for the Amazings. Jose Reyes and Argenis Reyes flied out while Wright struck out. It was an eight-pitch inning for Jimenez.

Top 2nd: It was another easy inning for Pedro. His only blemish was allowing a one-out walk to Iannetta. After that he fanned Baker and got Quintanilla to fly out.

Bottom 2nd: Not much for the Mets this inning, other than a two-out walk by Delgado.

Top 3rd: A 1-2-3 inning for Pedro! Jimenez, Podsednik and Barmes get nothing against the ageless wonder.

Bottom 3rd: Schneider led off with a walk and was stranded at third after Argenis Reyes grounded out to end the inning.

Top 4th: After allowing a leadoff walk to Holliday and issuing his first hit to Hawpe, a single, Pedro got Iannetta to ground into a double play.

Bottom 4th: A long inning for the Mets and it produced one run. Beltran got the first hit for the Mets, a one-out double, then stole third and scored on a single up the middle by Tatis. Following that the Mets loaded the bases, but pinch hitter Nick Evans struck out. Meanwhile Pedro left the game due to an apparent discomfort in his groin. He allowed just one hit with three strikeouts and three walks in four scoreless innings. Mets 1, Rockies 0.

Top 5th: Carlos Muniz came on for Pedro and worked a 1-2-3 inning.

** By the way, some sad news: it was announced that former Yankee Bobby Murcer lost his battle with brain cancer and passed away. **

Bottom 5th: Jose Reyes led off with a homer, his 10th. Mets 2, Rockies 0.

Top 6th: Another solid inning for Muniz, who allowed a two-out walk to Holliday before getting Atkins to pop out.

Bottom 6th: The Mets tack on another run on an RBI single by Schneider. Delgado led off the winning with a single and moved to second on Chavez’s sacrifice bunt before scoring. Mets 3, Rockies 0.

Top 7th: The Mets’ pitching staff is rolling! Aaron Heilman came on for Muniz, who pitched two hitless innings, and retired the side in order.

Bottom 7th: Wright led off with a bloop single off Ryan Speier, who replaced Jimenez, and stole second. He advanced to third on a Tatis ground out, but after Delgado was intentionally walked, Chavez grounded out.

Top 8th: Scott Schoeneweis replaced Heilman and kept up with the current trend by setting down the Rockies in order.

Bottom 8th: Not much for the Mets this inning. Schneider, however, picked up this third walk. Let's see if Wagner can close it out.

Top 9th: All-Star Billy Wagner came on and worked a scoreless inning as the Mets won their eighth consecutive game by limiting the Rockies to just one hit. Final: Mets 3, Rockies 0.