SB Nation Houston - Astros Visit Mets Fresh Off Four-Game Sweep Of Phillieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2010-08-27T12:12:29-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14181832010-08-27T12:12:29-05:002010-08-27T12:12:29-05:00Astros Visit Mets Fresh Off Four-Game Sweep Of Phillies
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<p>(Sports Network) - Brooklyn-born righty Nelson Figueroa returns to his hometown for a starting assignment when the Houston Astros visit the New York Mets tonight to open a three-game series at Citi Field.</p>
<p>The 36-year-old Figueroa, who's pitched for six major league teams, was a member of the Mets from 2008-09 and went 6-11 over 32 appearances while starting 16 times. He's also pitched for Arizona, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh in addition to the Mets and Astros.</p>
<p>The former 30th-round draft pick of New York in 1995 faced the Mets in Houston on Aug. 17 in Houston and got a no-decision after allowing an earned run on four hits in five innings. The Astros won the game, 4-3.</p>
<p>He's posted a 3.32 earned run average in seven lifetime appearances (two starts) against the Mets while allowing 22 hits and nine runs in 21 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>New York counters with 6-foot-7 righty Mike Pelfrey, who's won two of three since a midseason drought. The former first-round pick (ninth overall, 2005) downed Pittsburgh, 7-2, on Aug. 20 while giving up six hits and an earned run in eight innings.</p>
<p>Pelfrey was 10-2 on the season after beating Minnesota on June 25, but lost four straight decisions between July 5 and Aug. 4.</p>
<p>He is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in four career starts against Houston.</p>
<p>On Thursday in New York, Hanley Ramirez had three hits -- including a home run -- scored three times and drove in a pair as Florida stormed back from an early deficit to dismantle the Mets, 11-4, in the rubber match of a three-game set.</p>
<p>New York starter Jonathon Niese (8-6) started strong but wound up suffering the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks while fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>Houston comes into this series off an impressive four-game road sweep of Philadelphia. In Thursday's finale, Wandy Rodriguez stymied the Phillies hitters over seven innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single as the Astros posted a 5-1 win.</p>
<p>Rodriguez (10-12) struck out six and walked one. His lone mistake came in the sixth inning, when Chase Utley doubled home Jimmy Rollins.</p>
<p>Carlos Lee hit an RBI double in the first inning and added a solo home run off Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (8-7) in the third. Kendrick, who was celebrating his 26th birthday on Thursday, gave up four runs and nine hits in six full frames.</p>
<p>The last time Houston swept the Phillies in a four-game series in Philadelphia was Sept. 6-9, 1999 at Veterans Stadium.</p>
<p>These teams split a four-game series in Houston earlier this month. The Mets won five of six meetings with the Astros last season, including a three-game sweep at Citi Field.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/8/27/2320020/astros-visit-mets-fresh-off-four-game-sweep-of-philliesTom Martin