Mets start nine-game homestand against Astros

The National League East-leading New York Mets had their six-game winning streak stopped this week and will try get back on track when they open a nine-game homestand with the first of three straight games versus the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium.

The Mets had won five in a row and were aiming for a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds until they dropped a 7-0 decision in the series finale on Wednesday. Reds starter Tom Shearn and three relievers combined for the shutout, while Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran and Mike DeFelice accounted for the three hits for the Mets, who remained five games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East after they dropped a 9-8 decision in Atlanta that day.

New York starter John Maine was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Mike Pelfrey gets the nod for the Mets on Friday and he is 1-7 with a 5.43 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) this season. Pelfrey posted his first win of the season on Saturday at Atlanta, as he held the Braves to one run and one hit in six innings of a 5-1 triumph at Turner Field.

The right-handed Pelfrey is 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA in two career starts against the Astros.

Houston has lost two straight and four of five, including Wednesday's 14-2 setback against the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series at Miller Park. Astros starter Matt Albers was torched for seven runs in just three innings of work for the loss.

Luke Scott belted a two-run homer for Houston, which will send Wandy Rodriguez to the hill in Friday's series opener at New York. Rodriguez was 0-3 in six starts before tossing six shutout innings in a 6-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on August 31 at Wrigley Field.

Rodriguez, who is 8-12 with a 4.49 ERA in 27 starts this season, owns a 2-0 mark with a 1.89 earned run average in three career starts against the Mets.

Houston and New York split a four-game series from July 5-8 this season at Minute Maid Park. The Mets are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings with the Astros.