Mets Game #40, Road #21
	New York Mets (NL East – 4th Place – 18-21) @ Houston Astros (NL Central – 6th Place – 15-24)
Minute Maid Park	———

NL East Standing

Pitching Match-Up

Mets Lineup

Astros Lineup

Team Rankings

Team Leaders

Today's Tidbits

• At a Glance – The Mets had their three-game winning streak snapped yesterday…Despite the loss, the Mets have won six of their last nine games and after starting the year 5-13, they have gone 13-8…New York is 10-10 on the road this year, including 3-2 on this road trip…The Mets are 3-0 in road Sunday games this season.
• Series History – The Mets are 4-2-2 in their last eight series in Houston…New York is 18-19 all-time at Minute Maid Park which opened in 2000…The Mets are 6-1-1 in their last eight season series vs. Houston.
• Series Notes  – The Mets are 3-2 in rubber games this year, including 2-1 on the road…New York is 3-3 in road series this year…The Mets won five road series last year and did not win their fourth road series until September 6-8 at Washington.
• First Inning – The Mets allowed a season-high four first-inning runs yesterday…New York has scored 24 first-inning runs tied for the seventh-most in the majors while allowing 13 runs in the first, tied for the seventh-fewest in the majors.
• Jose Reyes – Has a .357 (35-98) batting average at Minute Maid Park, his highest average at any ballpark in which he’s had at least 25 at-bats….Leads the National League with six triples, is tied for first with 13 doubles, tied for first with 17 multi-hit games, tied for first with 54 hits, tied for second with 20 extra-base hits, tied for fourth with 12 stolen bases and is 13th with a .318 batting average.
• Carlos Beltran – Missed yesterday’s game with swelling of the right eye…His status will be re-evaluated today…Beltran has five home runs this month, tied for the National League lead and is third with 13 RBI…Overall, Beltran is tied for the NL lead with 13 doubles, is third with a .587 slugging percentage and is tied for seventh with eight home runs.
• Jason Bay – Has hit 11 home runs in 114 at-bats at Minute Maid Park, including a solo home run on Friday…Bay is averaging a home run every 10.36 at-bats at Minute Maid Park…The only player with at least 10 home runs at Minute Maid and a better home run ratio is Sammy Sosa who had 15 home runs in 149 at-bats, an average of one per every 9.9 at-bats…Research courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau.
• Justin Turner – Has reached base safely in his last six games dating back to May 7…During that span, Turner is hitting .333 (6-18) with four runs scored and three RBI.
• Stolen Bases – David Wright had a stolen base yesterday …Wright is one of three NL players with at least nine stolen bases without being caught (Michael Bourn, Orlando Hudson)…The Mets are seventh in the majors with 34 stolen bases…Jose Reyes is tied for fourth in the National League with 12 stolen bases and Wright is 10th in the NL with nine.
• Doubles – The Mets collected three doubles yesterday…New York is second in the National League and sixth in the majors with 76 doubles…Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are tied for the National League lead with 13 doubles.
• Home Runs – The Mets have hit seven home runs in their last three games, including a solo shot by Daniel Murphy yesterday …According to Elias, the Mets hit three home runs in consecutive games (May 12-13) for the first time since July 26-27, 2008 vs. the Cardinals at Shea and for the first time on the road since September 3-4, 2007 at Cincinnati…The Mets surrendered three home runs yesterday…Mets pitchers have allowed 44 home runs, tied fof the fourth-most in the majors while the Mets have hit 35 home runs, tied for 15th in the majors.
• The Pitching – The Mets are 7-5 this month …New York’s pitching staff has the ninth-best ERA in the month of May (3.21)…The Mets bullpen is 4-1 and has a 0.73 ERA (three earned runs/37.0 innings) this month, the best in the majors…Mets starters are 3-4 this month with a 4.44 ERA (37 earned runs/75.0 innings) and have pitched 6.0 or more innings in eight of the 12 starts this month.
• The Bullpen – Ryota Igarashi yielded a solo home run in the seventh-inning yesterday snapping a 24.0 scoreless inning streak from the Mets bullpen…It was the longest scoreless streak by the Mets pen since 25.2 innings shutout frames in August, 1999…Prior to Saturday’s game, the Mets pen had allowed one run over 36.0 innings in 12 games…The last time Mets relievers threw that many innings with such a low ERA was over a 12-game span was July 31-August 13, 1983 (0.45 ERA, two earned runs in 39.2 innings)…Since April 16, the Mets bullpen is 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA (16 earned runs/75.0 innings)…Jason Isringhausen is tied for sixth in the majors with eight holds.
• Chris Capuano – Is 5-4 with 3.32 (23 earned runs/62.1 innings) in 13 games, 10 starts against Astros…..Went 6.2 innings in his last start on May 9 in Colorado, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Rockies…Allowed five hits, two runs, earned, one home run and a season high tying three walks…Struck out four and threw 98 pitches, 61 strikes…It was Capuano’s third straight loss….Has lost three straight starts, tied for the third longest such streak of his career…Capuano lost four consecutive starts twice in 2007 (May 13-May 28 and July 28-August 14)…Despite the three straight losses, Capuano has pitched to a 3.86 ERA (eight earned runs/18.2 innings)…Further, has pitched into the seventh inning in two straight starts and allowed two runs in each (2.77 ERA).
• Pedro Beato – Reported to Buffalo (AAA) of the International League to begin his major league rehabilitation…Beato has been on the DL since May 2 with right elbow tendinitis.
• Bobby Parnell – Allowed three inherited runners to score yesterday for Buffalo (AAA) of the International League at Louisville …Parnell has allowed all five inherited runners to score in his last two major league rehabilitation outings…Parnell allowed one run on two hits in 1.0 inning of work…At Buffalo, he’s pitched 2.2 innings, yielding three hits, two runs, earned, with no walks and four strikeouts.
• Derrell Ceciliani – The centerfielder went 5-5 with four runs scored and three RBI while shortstop Robbie Shields was 3-6 with five RBI last night for Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League in their 12-2 victory at Rome.

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Mets Game #39, Road #20
	New York Mets (NL East – 4th Place – 18-20) @ Houston Astros (NL Central – 6th Place – 14-24)
Minute Maid Park	———

NL East Standing

Pitching Match-Up

Mets Lineup

Astros Lineup

Team Rankings

Team Leaders

Today's Tidbits

• At a Glance – The Mets have won three in a row and six of their last eight games…After starting the year 5-13, they have gone 13-7…New York is 10-9 on the road this year, including 3-1 on this road trip.
• Series History – The Mets are 4-2-2 in their last eight series in Houston…New York is 18-19 all-time at Minute Maid Park which opened in 2000…The Mets are 6-1-1 in their last eight season series vs. Houston.
• Series Notes  – New York is 3-3 in road series this year…The Mets won five road series last year and did not win their third road series until August 20-22 at Pittsburgh…They won their fourth road series on September 6-8 at Washington.
• Comebacks – The Mets trailed 4-0 after the sixth-inning last night and rallied to win, 6-4…The last time the Mets overcame a four-run deficit after the sixth-inning to win was May 11, 2010 vs. Washington, when they trailed 6-2 after six innings and won 8-6…Last night was New York’s seventh come-from-behind victory this season…The Mets had 21 comebacks wins in 2010.
• Close Games – The Mets improved to 4-3 in games decided by two-runs with last night’s 6-4 triumph…New York is 7-11 in games decided by two runs or less this year, including 2-1 on this road trip in such games.
• Friday the 13th – The Mets are 21-25 all-time on Friday the 13th.
• Jose Reyes – has a .355 (33-93) batting average at Minute Maid Park, his highest average at any ballpark in which he’s had at least 25 at-bats….Leads the National League with six triples, is tied for second with 12 doubles, is tied for first with 16 multi-hit games, tied for third with 19 extra-base hits, is tied for third in stolen bases (12) and is tied for second with 52 hits.
• David Wright - After sitting out two games, the Mets third baseman hit the go-ahead two-home run last night…Three of Wright’s five home runs this season have given the Mets a lead. 
• Carlos Beltran – Has five home runs this month to lead all major leaguers and is second with 13 RBI behind Florida’s Gaby Sanchez…Overall, Beltran leads the NL with 13 doubles, is third with a .587 slugging percentage and is tied for sixth with eight home runs.
• Jason Bay – Belted a solo home run in the seventh-inning last night…Bay has hit 11 home runs in 113 at-bats at Minute Maid Park, an average of 10.27 at-bats…The only player with at least 10 home runs at Minute Maid and a better home run ratio is Sammy Sosa who had 15 home runs in 149 at-bats, an average of one per every 9.9 at-bats…Research courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau…After missing time with a strained left rib cage and two games for the birth of his third child, the Mets are 13-5 in games Bay plays in this year.
• Fernando Martinez – Hit his first career pinch-hit home run last night in the eighth-inning…It was New York’s second pinch-hit home run of the year…Daniel Murphy slugged a pinch-hit home run on April 27 at Washington…It was Martinez’ second career home run…His other came on June 30, 2009 at Milwaukee.
• Home Runs – The Mets have hit six home runs in their last two games…New York is tied for sixth in the National League with 34 home runs…Meanwhile, Mets pitchers have surrendered 41 home runs, the third most in the National League. 
• The Pitching – The Mets are 7-4 this month …New York’s pitching staff has the sixth-best ERA in the month of May (2.86)…The Mets bullpen is 4-1 and has a 0.52 ERA (two earned runs/34.1 innings) this month, the best in the majors…Mets starters are 3-3 this month with a 4.00 ERA (31 earned runs/69.2 innings) and have pitched 6.0 or more innings in eight of the 11 starts this month.
• The Bullpen – The Mets pen has hurled 23.1 scoreless innings dating back to May 4…Since April 16, the Mets bullpen is 6-1 with a 1.87 ERA (15 earned runs/72.1 innings)..Pat Misch was the winning pitcher last night…It was his first victory since October 3, 2009 vs. Houston…The Mets have seven wins from the pen, tied for the sixth most in the majors…Jason Isringhausen is tied for sixth in the majors with eight holds.
• R.A. Dickey – In five career games against the Astros, three starts, Dickey is 2-3 with a 2.49 ERA (seven earned runs/25.1 innings)….In his last start, received the loss in a 4-2 defeat vs. the Dodgers on May 8…He tossed 7.0 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on a season-high 10 hits…Also allowed two walks and one home run while hitting a batter…Recorded three strikeouts on 108 pitches, 72 for strikes…..Dickey is holding opponents to a .268 (30-112) bating average against and a .304 slugging percentage in his first two times through opposing lineups…However, when opposing lineups face Dickey for the third and fourth times they are hitting .343 (23-67), with a .597 slugging percentage and have hit the only four home runs he has allowed this season.
• Pedro Beato – Pitched 1.0 inning yesterday in an extended Spring Training game…Beato was placed on the Disabled List with right elbow tendinitis…He is eligible to return on May 17.
• Bobby Parnell – Is expected to pitch today for Buffalo (AAA) of the International League…Parnell allowed a three-run home run to Jesus Montero on Thursday after entering the game in the eighth inning in his major league rehabiliation outing…Parnell worked 1.1 innings, allowed one hit, one run, earned, with three strikeouts.

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Mets Game #38, Road #19
	New York Mets (NL East – 5th Place – 17-20) @ Houston Astros (NL Central – 6th Place – 14-23)
Minute Maid Park	———

NL East Standing

Pitching Match-Up

Mets Lineup

Astros Lineup

Team Rankings

Team Leaders

Today's Tidbits

• At a Glance – The Mets have won five of their last seven games and after starting the year 5-13, they have gone 12-7..New York is 9-9 on the road this year.
• Series History – The Mets are 4-2-2 in their last eight series in Houston…New York is 18-19 all-time at Minute Maid Park which opened in 2000…The Mets are 6-1-1 in their last eight season series vs. Houston.
• Series Notes  – New York took two of three from Colorado and improved to 3-3 in road series this year…The Mets won five road series last year and did not win their third road series until August 20-22 at Pittsburgh…The Mets are 4-8 in the first game of a series this year, including 0-1 vs. Houston.
• First Inning – The Mets plated two first-inning runs yesterday…New York has scored 24 first-inning runs this season, the fifth-most in the majors…Conversely, Mets pitchers have allowed 10 first-inning runs, the fourth-fewest in the majors.
• Friday the 13th – The Mets are 20-25 all-time on Friday the 13th.
• Jose Reyes – Leads the National League with six triples, is tied for first with 12 doubles, is first with 16 multi-hit games, tied for second with 19 extra-base hits, is tied for third in stolen bases (12), is second with 51 hits, and 11th with a .315 batting average.
• Carlos Beltran – became the first player in the majors this year and the eighth Met to hit three home runs in a game with his three, two-run home runs yesterday in Colorado…It was Beltran’s first career three home run game and he is tied for fifth in the National League with eight home runs this year….All three of Beltran’s home runs were with runners on base, joining Dave Kingman (June 4, 1976) as only the second Met to hit three home runs with runners on base in a single game…Kingman hit two, two-run home runs and a three-run shot…The last major leaguer to belt three home runs with men on base in one game was Florida’s Cody Ross against the Mets on September 11, 2006….hit two home runs lefthanded and one righthanded yesterday…It was the eighth time in his career and fifth as a member of the Mets that he’s hit a home run from each side of the plate in the same game, tying Todd Hundley for the most in franchise history…..hit his first home run to straight away center, the second to leftfield and the third to right…Only one of the 12 players to hit three home runs in a game last season hit one to all three fields: Adam Dunn on July 7 vs. the Padres in Washington…Information courtesy of Elias.
• Error Free – The Mets played their fourth straight game without an error yesterday, equaling their season-high…New York ranks eighth in the majors with a .987 fielding percentage.
• The Pitching – The Mets are 6-4 this month…New York’s pitching staff has the sixth-best ERA in the month of May (2.75)…The Mets bullpen has a 0.59 ERA (two earned runs/30.1 innings) this month, the best in the majors…Mets starters are 3-3 this month with a 3.76 ERA (27 earned runs/64.2 innings) and have pitched 6.0 or more innings in eight of the 10 starts this month.
• The Bullpen – The Mets pen has hurled 19.1 scoreless innings dating back to May 4…Since April 16, the Mets bullpen is 5-1 with a 1.98 ERA (15 earned runs/68.1 innings)…Jason Isringhausen is tied for sixth in the majors with eight holds…Francisco Rodriguez hasn’t allowed a run in his last 11.1 innings and is tied for sixth in the majors with his 10 saves.
• Dillon Gee – received the no-decision in a 4-2 victory vs. the Dodgers…He tossed 5.1 innings and allowed two runs, earned…Allowed seven hits, tying a career-high, and three walks, a season-high…Also allowed one home run, hit two batters and recorded two strikeouts on 89 pitches, 59 for strikes…Gee was not scheduled to start the game, but after RHP Chris Young was scratched Gee got the nod…It was his first career start pitching on three days rest…..is one of eight pitchers in the majors to have at least three starts and three relief appearances…He is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA (five earned runs/17.0 innings) in three starts and 0-0 with a 8.31 ERA (four earned runs/4.1 innings) in three relief appearances.
• Bobby Parnell – Allowed a three-run home run to Jesus Montero yesterday after entering the game in the eighth-inning in his major league rehabiliation outing with Buffalo (AAA) of the International League…Parnell worked 1.1 innings, allowed one hit, one run, earned, with three strikeouts.

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New York Mets @ Houston Astros
	Minute Maid Park

Scouting Report:

METS: A rotation replacement for the injured Chris Young, Gee will look to build upon his start of 5 1/3 innings and two runs last Saturday against the Dodgers. Barring an injury, Gee should remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

ASTROS: Norris has been the Astros' most consistent starter, and he is improving. He's allowed six earned runs in his past five starts after giving up nine earned runs in his first two. He's fanned 52 batters in 42 2/3 innings.

Scouting Report:

METS: Solid contact continues to hurt Dickey, who allowed a season-high 10 hits in his last start against the Dodgers. Dickey has lost to the Astros once already this season, giving up four runs on eight hits in eight innings.

ASTROS: Happ has won only once in seven starts and is searching for something to turn his season around. He didn't pitch poorly his last time out and wound up with a no-decision, allowing two runs in six innings at Pittsburgh.

Scouting Report:

METS: In what is quickly becoming a trend, Capuano pitched well enough to win Monday in Denver but did not, giving up just two runs over 6 2/3 innings. It was Capuano's third quality start in his last four outings, though he has just one win in that span

ASTROS: This will be the third Major League start for Rodriguez, a Rule 5 Draft pick who began the season in the bullpen. Rodriguez faced the Reds in each of his first two Major League starts, allowing five earned runs in 10 innings.

Team Leaders

Mets Injury Report

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Astros Injury Report

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Zachary Levine reports that the Houston Astros have released Fernando Nieve so he can sign with a Korean baseball team.

Nieve pitched 42 innings for the Mets last season, with a 6.00 ERA and a record of 2-4. He was designated for assignment, then re-signed with the Mets to pitch with Triple-A Buffalo.

He signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates this off-season, and didn't make the major league roster.

After he was released by the Pirates he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.

Yesterday, the Astros granted his release so he could sign with the Doosan Bears in South Korea.