=== New York Mets Team Report - July 18 === (My Sportsbook) - The New York Mets try to salvage a split of their four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, as the teams play the finale today at Shea Stadium. The Mets won the series opener on Thursday, but the Phillies have picked up victories in the next two games. Philadelphia now holds a one-game lead over Atlanta for first place in the East, while New York and Florida find themselves three games back. The Mets will send Al Leiter to the mound today and hope the veteran lefthander can get back on the winning track. Leiter lost last Sunday at Florida, allowing four runs and three hits in just three innings of work. He threw 88 pitches in the brief outing and saw his ERA balloon from 2.05 to 2.40. The 38-year-old lefthander is 9-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 23 career outings against the Phillies. On Saturday, Jim Thome cracked a three-run homer and Randy Wolf notched his first win in three starts to lead the Phillies to an 8-2 win. Mike Piazza homered and Mike Cameron added an RBI single for New York, which suffered its fourth loss in five tries. Tom Glavine (7-8) continued to struggle lately for the Mets, surrendering four runs -- two earned -- on nine hits and one walk. Glavine, who has dropped his last five starts, is just 1-6 with three no decisions since his first career one-hitter versus the Colorado Rockies on May 23. New York holds a 7-5 advantage over the Phillies in the season series. However, Philadelphia has won 13 of its last 18 at Shea Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. |
