(Sports Network) - Even Ubaldo Jimenez couldn't solve Colorado's problems in New York.
One day after losing a pitchers' duel despite having the major league leaders in wins on the mound, the Rockies hope to draw even with the Mets this evening in the second contest of a three-game set at Citi Field.
Jimenez allowed just a run and four hits over seven frames of Tuesday's opener, but New York's Mike Pelfrey was even better. Pelfrey scattered four hits over seven scoreless frames to earn a 1-0 victory, his first since June 25.
Pelfrey had been 0-4 with a 9.00 earned run average since that win, but outdueled a 17-game winner to give the Mets their third victory in eight games.
"[Pelfrey] really attacked the strike zone from the first pitch and I think that's important," said Mets manager Jerry Manuel. "He got some ground balls when he had to get out of an inning and pitched extremely well."
Jose Reyes drove in the lone run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, plating Jeff Francoeur after he came on to pinch-run for Chris Carter. Carter led off the frame with a walk and moved to third on Josh Thole's double.
Jimenez, meanwhile, remained tied with Kevin Ritz (1996), Pedro Astacio (1999) and Jeff Francis (2007) for the franchise's single-season wins record.
"It's obviously a tough game to lose. Personally, I think it's even tougher for [Jimenez] due to the fact that in two of his three losses, he's had a total of zero run support," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.
Colorado has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games and is just 3-22 in the last 25 games versus the Mets at New York. It lost three of four in its first-ever trip to Citi Field last year, but had won five of seven overall versus the Mets prior to Tuesday's opener.
The Rockies turn to former 17-game winner Francis, who is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his career versus the Mets.
The 29-year-old is 4-4 with a 4.67 ERA this season and is coming off a loss to the Pirates on Thursday in which he gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. Francis had been 2-0 over his previous three outings while allowing just four total runs.
New York will go with Jon Niese, who did not factor into the decision of Thursday's start versus the Phillies. The 23-year-old gave up just one run over seven innings, working around four hits and five walks.
That outing came just five days after Niese was drilled for six earned runs over 4 1/3 innings of a loss to the Diamondbacks. On the season, he is 7-5 with a 3.63 ERA.
The southpaw is 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two career starts versus the Rockies. Niese did not factor into the decision of an April 14 start against them even though he allowed five runs over five innings.
Colorado may have closer Huston Street back after he missed Tuesday's game. Street's wife, Lacey, gave birth to the couple's first child on Monday, a boy they named Ripken Ray.