The bruised and battered Mets go back out to Coors Field on short rest after suffering a brutal 13-inning loss Friday night. New York had several opportunites to win and snap their losing streak, but it was not meant to be, and at the end of the nigth they had their 5th consecutive loss. General Manager Omar Minaya emphasized Friday night that Willie Randolph's job was safe, so maybe that reaffirmation will help put the club at ease.

Pitching Matchup: Claudio Vargas (0-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. Jeff Francis (1-4, 5.87 ERA)

In a game the Mets need so desperately, they give the ball to a guy who was not on the team for Opening Day. Claudio Vargas will just have to find a way to step up on short rest and give the Mets a chance to win. He certainly did that in his first start as a Met, when he pitched 6 1/3 very solid innings against the Nationals. Vargas took the loss in that game, but I am sure Willie Randolph and Rick Peterson would love to get that same effort from him today. What they do not want to see is a repeat of Vargas' last start. That was May 20 against Atlanta when he gave up 4 runs and went only 5 innings.

The Rockies are starting lefty Jeff Francis, who is struggling after putting up solid numbers in 2007. After going 17-9 last year he has started just 1-4 this year, and his ERA is more than a run and a half higher than it was in 07. Francis is 2-1 agaisnt the Mets in his career, with an ERA of 4.15.

The Lineup:

1- Jose Reyes- SS

2- Luis Castillo- 2b

3- David Wright- 3b

4- Carlos Beltran- CF

5- Fernando Tatis- RF

6- Carlos Delgado- 1b

7- Ramon Castro- C

8- Nick Evans- LF

9- Claudio Vargas- P

Rizzi's Rant:

I am pretty tired of ranting on and on about the Mets, and giving my best rally cry, only to watch them falter. We all know how big this game is, and we all know how injury plagued and unconfident the Mets are right now. Let's just hope and pray that today is the day it all gets turned around. With Vargas on the hill the onus is on the lineup to get it done. Hey, may be Fernando Tatis will hit two grand slams in one inning today. or maybe Nick Evans will be the next David Wright. It sure would be nice...