Thu Jul 17 10:43:34 2008

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Mets try to extend winning streak in Cincinnati

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(Sports Network) - While the Mets are surely glad to have put the first part of the season behind them, they are still carrying something with them from that up- and-down half. New York tries to extend a nine-game winning streak tonight in the opener of a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Following last season's epic collapse that saw New York miss out on both the National League East title and a playoff spot, the Mets' 2008 season didn't get off to a great start. New York was as far back as 7 1/2 games in the division on June 13 and two games under .500 at 32-34.

That start cost manager Willie Randolph his job, as he was unceremoniously fired in the middle of the night on June 17 following a victory over the Angels. However, New York has gone 17-9 under interim manager Jerry Manuel and is now within a half game of first-place Philadelphia in the NL East thanks to its winning streak. The Phillies are idle tonight, giving the Mets a chance to move into a tie for first place.

The nine wins in a row is the club's longest since also winning nine straight from April 16-25, 2000. The Mets haven't won 10 straight since July 1-13, 1991. The current streak is also just two wins short of New York's franchise record of 11, set four times in club history and most recently in 1990.

The Mets send their ace to the hill tonight and will try to continue to put up runs. New York has scored 54 runs over its winning streak while posting shutouts in four of its last six games. That is good news for Santana, who went 0-3 over five starts despite a 2.48 earned run average in that time prior to a win over the Giants on July 9.

The left-hander threw just five innings in that one due to a rain delay, but didn't allow a run on three hits and three walks while striking out five. On the season, he is 8-7 with a 2.84 ERA.

The 29-year-old Santana defeated the Reds on May 10 after allowing three runs on 10 hits over six innings, and has a 5.40 ERA in two starts and one relief outing against them lifetime.

The Reds nearly carried a winning streak of their own into the break, winning three in a row before a setback to Milwaukee on Sunday. Cincinnati has won seven of its last 10, and is only four games under .500 at 46-50. However, it is also 11 1/2 games back of first place Chicago in the NL Central.

The Reds hit just .248 as a team in the first half -- the third worst average in the majors -- and their 416 runs scored are in the middle of the pack in the NL.

Adam Dunn, sure to once again be mentioned in trade talks for the remainder of the month, is second in the majors with 26 homers on the season, having hit five in his last seven games. Dunn, though, is hitting just .228 on the season and has struck out 99 times this year.

Cincinnati does start a 10-game homestand tonight and is 26-19 as the host this year.

Johnny Cueto draws the starting assignment for the Reds tonight. He is just 2-4 over his last six starts and lost to the Cubs on July 9 after allowing five runs (4 earned) on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings.

The rookie is 7-9 with a 4.67 ERA this year and lost to the Mets when he faced them for the first time on May 11. He was lit up for six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 frames, allowing homers to Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church.

New York won two of three when the clubs met in May, outscoring the Cincinnati 27-10 in the three games at Shea Stadium. The Mets have won six of the last eight in the series and three of the last four in Cincinnati.