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PHI@PIT: Lee hurls six strong innings of one-run ball

After winning four straight to start the season, the upstart Mets have now dropped back-to-back games as they prepare to open the season series with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

And stopping that losing streak before it gets any longer certainly won't come easy against Phillies ace Cliff Lee.

Lee has been dominant against the Mets in his limited time in the National League, going 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three career starts. The southpaw has limited the Mets to a .224 batting average in those three outings, and only the Dodgers (0.40 ERA against) have struggled more to score against the lefty.

Putting up runs in support of starter R.A. Dickey might be especially difficult for the Mets if David Wright is unable to play. Wright, who's hitting .583 (7-for-12) on the young season, fractured his right pinkie finger in Monday's victory and didn't play the final two games of the series with the Nationals.

Despite the fact that Wright's finger was in a splint as of Wednesday morning, Mets manager Terry Collins wasn't ready to count his slugger out of Friday's game just yet.

"I just think David's going to be fine," Collins said before Wednesday's 4-0 loss. "I will not be at all surprised one bit to write his name in the lineup Friday. Not one bit."

With or without Wright, Dickey will aim to keep the Mets in the game by extending his current streak of 13 consecutive quality starts dating back to last season. Coming off a season in which the 37-year-old right-hander pitched a career-high 208 2/3 innings, Dickey allowed two runs over six innings in a 4-2 victory against the Braves last Saturday.

Mets: Wright injury could bring defensive changes
Though Collins is optimistic that Wright's fractured pinkie won't keep him out for an extended period of time, there is a sort of defensive contingency plan in place if it does.

After his switch to second base this season, natural third baseman Daniel Murphy could be moved back to his corner-infield spot if the Mets decide to put Wright on the disabled list. That decision is expected to be made Friday.

"Absolutely no disrespect intended, but [Murphy] is a guy who's learning to play second base, and I know he can play third," Collins said. "So if David's out for an extended period of time, I think Dan would be a lot more comfortable playing third than he is playing second.

"Hopefully we don't have to decide it. What it comes down to for me is, when David's in the lineup, I like our defense. If he's not in the lineup, how do we improve it?"

Phillies: Kendrick adjusting to late-inning role
Pitching in consecutive games over the weekend against the Pirates for the first time in his career, Kyle Kendrick's role is changing.

Typically used in the bullpen as a long reliever, Kendrick pitched in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday and the bottom of the seventh Sunday. In all, he tossed 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit. He'll likely continue to see action in more late-inning situations this year.

"We've got to give him enough mound time to keep him sharp," Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "I think before we were looking for a bunch of right-handers to come up there, but now he is equally effective against lefties."

• Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who is recovering from an infection following complications from left Achilles surgery, is scheduled to see a wound specialist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Monday.

• Phils right-hander Jose Contreras allowed three hits, one run and struck out two in one inning Thursday during a rehab appearance with Class A Clearwater.

Worth noting
• The Mets are one of four teams -- the Cardinals, Dodgers and Rockies being the others -- that have never recorded a home run off Lee.

• New York hasn't taken the season series since going 11-7 against the Phillies in 2008. Philadelphia has posted a 32-22 record against the Mets over the last three seasons.

• Jim Thome has 96 home runs with the Phillies. If he hits four more with the Phils, he will become the fourth player in baseball history to have 100 or more homers with three different teams. Thome hit more than 100 homers for both the Indians and White Sox earlier in his career. The others are Alex Rodriguez (Mariners, Rangers and Yankees), Reggie Jackson (A's, Yankees, Angels) and Darrell Evans (Braves, Giants, Tigers).

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