Houston Astros (74-87) at New York Mets (69-92), 1:10 p.m.

Sports Network | October 4, 2009

(Sports Network) - The New York Mets will try to wrap up their season with three straight wins for the first time since late July, as they take on the Houston Astros Sunday in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field.

New York, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2006, was plagued by health problems this season and has won the first two portions of this series following a three-game losing streak. It recorded a 5-1 win on Saturday, as Fernando Tatis posted two hits and two RBI, while Josh Thole and Anderson Hernandez had an RBI apiece in the win.

Pat Misch pitched five innings of one-run ball for the win and closer Francisco Rodriguez later came on for his 35th save for the Mets, who haven't won three straight since winning five in a row from July 25-30.

"I'm always bummed when (the season is) coming to an end," Misch said. "I like to pitch. It's just how i am, so today I was a little bummed. It felt great just to go out there every time and give the team a chance to win. Finishing like that was awesome."

Nelson Figueroa is scheduled to pitch for the Mets today and he has lost five straight trips to the mound. He previously toed the rubber in a 2-1 loss at Washington on Monday, allowing both runs and six hits in six innings. The righty fell to 2-8 with a 4.70 ERA in 15 games (9 starts) this season.

Figueroa is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in seven career games, two of which have been starts, against the Astros.

Houston will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year and will try to salvage the finale of this series in New York. In Saturday's four-run loss, Miguel Tejada was credited with the lone RBI and Lance Berkman ended with a team-high two hits for the Astros, who have lost two straight and four of their last five games.

"We would love to finish the season with a win," said Astros manager Dave Clark. "You look at those games and say you're one or two hits away from busting it wide open, but it just didn't go our way today. We've been seeing a lot of that this year."

Tejada enters Sunday needing two hits to reach 200 hits for the fourth time in his career. He is also riding a 20-game hitting streak.

Astros starter Yorman Bazardo was saddled with the loss, as he allowed four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Wilton Lopez gets the nod for Houston Sunday and he is only 0-1 with a 9.42 ERA in seven games (1 start) this season. He made his first career start on Tuesday against Philadelphia and was dealt the loss for allowing five runs, including a grand slam, in 3 2/3 innings.

The right-hander, who was recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi on August 28, has never faced the Mets.

New York won two of three over the Astros in Houston back on July 24-26. The Astros are making their first-ever trip to brand new Citi Field.