Mets At Phillies: Series Opens In Philadelphia

The New York Mets will try to pick up their first three-game winning streak since the end of June when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. The three-game series is the first time these two teams have met since the Mets took two of three from the Phillies just before the All-Star break.

The Mets are fresh off taking two of three from the Houston Astros over the weekend at Citi Field. They nearly lost the series to the worst team in baseball, but were saved Sunday afternoon by a fantastic play at the plate by catcher Kelly Shoppach in the top of the ninth to keep the game tied and a walk-off homer by Ike Davis in the bottom of the inning.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, have won four straight and seven of nine to jump over the Mets in the NL East standings and pull to within 10 games of the final Wild Card berth in the National League. Over the weekend they swept the first-place Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, where they have now won 14 of 20.

New York skipper Terry Collins will hand the ball to veteran right hander Chris Young. He will be looking to bounce back from a 6-2 loss last Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies when Young tossed away a chance at a victory with an errant throw to first base on a sacrifice bunt. He started the game with such promise, retiring the first 15 batters he faced.

Facing off against Young will be the Vance Worley, the Phillies starter that has not won a game since August 1. He's faced the Mets twice this season and has surrendered 10 runs in 10 innings, including two home runs to a New York lineup absent of much power.

You can watch all the action locally on SNY or listen on WFAN 660 with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.