Aug 16, 2011
Tuesday, 10:05 pm EDT
New York Mets' Jonathan Niese was the hard-luck loser in Thursday’s 3-2 home loss to San Diego, yielding three runs - two earned - while fanning seven and matching his career high with 122 pitches over 7 2-3 innings. Jonathan is 5-0 with a 3.65 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 37 innings over his last six road starts. He is looking to extend his career-high road winning streak to six as he makes his first appearance at pitcher-friendly Petco. NY Mets split a four-game home set with the Padres last week, are now on the verge of winning their first series at San Diego since sweeping three games at Qualcomm Stadium from May 16-18, 2002.
San Diego Padres' Cameron Maybin homered on one of his two hits off Niese last week. He has a .348 average with three RBIs and six runs in five meetings with the Mets this year. San Diego Padres’ 23-37 home record is among the worst in baseball. They’ve lost four consecutive series at Petco. San Diego Padres' Cory Luebke has lost his last two starts at home, surrendering nine runs and 16 hits, including three homers, in 13 1-3 innings. He held New York to two runs and three hits in five innings Thursday, but walked a career-high four batters while hitting two others. He struck out eight but did not get a decision.