NewsMets try to end trip on winning note
New York (52-61) at Arizona (52-62), 3:40 p.m. ET
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
08/12/09 2:04 AM ET
PHOENIX -- The Mets have one more shot on this seven-game roadie on Wednesday against the D-backs at Chase Field and they would like to end the trip on a high note. If there was one positive about Tuesday night's lineup switches in a 6-2 loss, it's that the three insertions went 4-for-11 with a double, a walk and a run scored. "I need more than lineup switches, I'll tell you that," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said after the Mets lost for the 10th time in their past 13 games, which includes five of six to the D-backs during that span. Well, Manuel said he'll have third baseman David Wright and outfielder Gary Sheffield back in the starting lineup. Wright, save for a pinch-hit strikeout in the ninth inning, was given most of the night off. Sheffield hasn't started on the trip because of a sore right hamstring but has pinch-hit in the past two games, both losses here. The lineup shakeups included Cory Sullivan in the leadoff spot playing center field, Fernando Tatis replacing Wright at both third base and third in the batting order and Jeremy Reed in left field, batting sixth. Sullivan had two hits, including the double. "I like Sully," Manuel said. "Sully brings a little energy, brings us a little life. He's a veteran player. There's no doubt that he can play. He's taking advantage of it. We'll get a good look at him and see if he can be a fit at some point." The guy Manuel declined to sit, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, homered to lead off the second inning, tying the score, 1-1, at the time. It was his 10th, five of them coming since he came to New York in a July 10 trade that send Ryan Church to the Braves. Francoeur added a two-out, sixth-inning triple and is now 9-for-23 on the trip. Pitching matchupNYM: LHP Oliver Perez (2-3, 6.38 ERA)
Perez was Good Ollie against the Padres on Friday night. He gave his best and longest performance of the season, allowing two hits, two walks and a run in 6 1/3 innings. And he threw merely 93 pitches, a virtual day off for his arm. He didn't win, but he reminded colleagues of the pitcher they rarely have seen since last August. Now he faces the D-backs, the team he faced Aug. 1 at Citi Field. The Mets won that game, he didn't. He was removed after only five innings, having walked five batters and thrown 112 pitches. He allowed two earned runs in that start and now has a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings (three starts) against the D-backs in the past four seasons. But he is winless. He has pitched merely six innings -- they were scoreless -- in Chase Field in the same timeframe. ARI: RHP Jon Garland (6-10, 4.33 ERA)
Garland took a no-decision Friday in six innings against the Nationals but probably deserved better. Handed a 5-0 lead in the second inning, Garland could not hold it, but his problems stemmed from a pair of defensive miscues by center fielder Gerardo Parra. First, Parra misplayed a single into three bases, leading to an unearned run. Two innings later he started forward on a line drive over which sailed over his head. That play was ruled a double, and led to a three-run inning off Garland. Tidbits
The Mets will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 1969 championship team in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 22 at Citi Field prior to a 7:10 pm ET game against the Phillies. Twenty-three of the players from that team will be in attendance, including pitchers Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan. Manager Gil Hodges, reliever Tug McGraw and center fielder Tommy Agee are key members of that team who have passed away. The Miracle Mets shocked the baseball world by defeating the American League champion Orioles (with Frank Robinson) in five games. In the first-ever best-of-five National League Championship Series, they swept the Braves (with Hank Aaron). ... When third baseman Wright was held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday night, it was only the second time this season it's happened in 113 games. The other missed start was on May 30 against the Marlins at home. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Mets (Bobby Parnell, 2-4, 3.94) vs. Giants (Barry Zito, 8-10, 4.40), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Mets (Johan Santana, 13-8, 3.00) vs. Giants (TBD), 4:10 p.m. ET
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
