Phillies vs. Mets preview

7:05, Citizens Bank Park. TV: Comcast SportsNet. Radio: WPHT (1210-AM); WUBA (1480-AM) Spanish.

Phillies RHP Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.86) vs. Mets LHP Jonathon Niese (7-5, 3.78)

Carlos Ruiz: The catcher has had multiple hits in six of his last nine games. Last night, a two-run double in the sixth gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead, and his homer in the 10th won the game.

J.C. Romero: The lefty reliever allowed all three batters he faced to reach base last night as the Marlins scored four runs in the seventh, two of which were charged to Romero.

Blanton vs. Mets: The righthander faced New York on May 26 at Citi Field, where he allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks in a 5-0 Phillies loss.

Phillies vs. Niese: The 23-year-old southpaw is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, a 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks in which he allowed six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Niese has allowed eight home runs in his last six starts, but pitched well against the Phillies in a 9-1 win on April 30, holding them to one run on four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies vs. Mets: This series is one of four the Phils have left against their rivals, whom they last faced in late May. They've lost four of six games thus far.

Tomorrow vs. Mets: Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56) vs. Mets LHP Johan Santana (8-6, 3.20)

Sunday vs. Mets: Phillies RHP Roy Halladay (13-8, 2.17) vs. Mets RHP R.A. Dickey (7-4, 2.36)