Mets vs. Ana

[whalberg11]

Should be a good game tonight, Im going. Kaz Ishii vs Bartolo Colon. Mets really should have no shot unless Ishii pitches well or Colon doesnt have his stuff. THE METS BATS NEED TO WAKE UP FAST WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN THIS RACE!!!

Interleague Play returns to Shea Stadium on Friday, when the Angels visit New York for a three-game series.
The Mets enter the series two games over .500 and in the thick of a tightly contested National League East race, despite losing two straight to the Astros.

"We've got to learn real quick to forget the past," Cliff Floyd said. "We need to end this homestand on a good note."

Kazuhisa Ishii starts for the Mets in search of his second win of the year. The left-hander has yet to pitch back-to-back starts of similar quality. Ishii's poor performance in his most recent outing, when he allowed six runs to the Giants in 6 1/3 innings, puts him in line to pitch well against the Angels.

His chances for a good game are bolstered by the Angels' 7-10 record when facing a left-handed starter.

Bartolo Colon gets the start for the Angels, who enter the series leading the American League West. Colon has won four of his past five decisions and is seventh in the AL in wins and ERA. He is fifth in strikeouts.

Despite Colon's gaudy statistics, several Mets have hit him well -- notably Carlos Beltran and Doug Mientkiewicz. Both are batting better than .300 in more than 30 at-bats against the right-hander.

However, Colon may be in luck because both are weakened by injury. Beltran has been playing with a strained quad since May 21, and Mientkiewicz is day-to-day with a contusion on his pectoral muscle and a bruised right rib after diving into the stands for a foul ball.

"Those will be some tough games," said Mets manager Willie Randolph. "That's a good ballclub -- they've always been a tough, scrappy team. We'll look forward to that challenge."

Pitching matchup
LAA: RHP Bartolo Colon
• 7-3, 3.10 ERA in 2005
• Did not face NYM in 2004

NYM: LHP Kazuhisa Ishii
• 1-4, 5.14 ERA in 2005
• Did not face LAA in 2004

Player to watch
Beltran has rocked Colon in the past, batting .343 with four home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs in 34 at-bats. Beltran has gone 27-for-83 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs over the past 23 games.