(Sports Network) - The New York Mets have made it clear they won't be messed with at home this season. Tonight they'll shoot for their 10th straight win as the host in the continuation of a three-game set versus the San Diego Padres.
The Mets posted their ninth straight victory at home with Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win in 11 innings on rookie Ike Davis' game-winning solo home run. Jose Reyes also went deep and starter Mike Pelfrey allowed one run on five hits over nine innings of work. Elmer Dessens got an out in the 11th for the win.
"Considering I've been going through a rough patch and not making hard contact, it made it even better," said Davis. "It was awesome, to win a game with one swing is amazing."
New York, which has won four straight overall, improved to 23-9 as the host this season and is 2 1/2 games off the lead in the National League East. It is also 11-4 in its last 15 games and unbeaten on a six-game residency.
Mets ace Johan Santana has recorded just one decision in his last six starts, going 1-0 with a 1.42 earned run average, and will take the mound tonight. Santana hasn't factored into the outcome of his last two starts and hurled seven shutout innings in a 5-1 loss at San Diego the previous time out on Wednesday. He is 2-2 with a 1.99 ERA in six career starts against the Padres.
Santana, who went eight scoreless frames in his previous outing on May 28 at Milwaukee, last won on May 23 at home versus the rival New York Yankees. He is 4-1 in six home starts in 2010 and 4-2 overall in 12 appearances.
San Diego lost its grip on the National League West lead with last night's loss and had a modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Edward Mujica gave up the solo blast to Davis in the home half of the 11th inning to suffer the loss, while starter Clayton Richard was solid through seven innings, allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
"Clayton pitched well, made some critical pitches at key times to get through the middle of their order a number of times. It's great to see," said Padres manager Bud Black.
Adrian Gonzalez doubled home the lone run for San Diego, which was coming off a four-game split in Philadelphia and moved to 2-3 on a seven-game road trip. The Padres will head back to San Diego after this series to begin a nine-game homestand at Petco Park.
San Diego will send young right-hander Mat Latos against the Mets tonight and he hopes to get back into the win column after having an unbeaten run come to an end the last time out. Latos was 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in five starts before losing at Philadelphia on Friday.
Latos gave up three runs and four hits in five innings of a 3-2 loss to the Phillies, while recording six strikeouts and four walks. The setback dropped him to 5-4 in 11 starts this season and pushed his ERA to 3.26. Latos, who is 3-2 in six road starts in 2010, beat the Mets the only time he faced them on August 8 last season in a 3-1 triumph. Latos tossed six innings of one-run ball that day and fanned seven batters.
San Diego just won a three-game series versus the Mets at Petco Park from May 31-June 2 and is 14-6 in the past 20 meetings between the teams.