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Mets-Pirates Preview

Jun 2, 2009 - 4:45 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

New York (28-21) at Pittsburgh (22-28), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Adam LaRoche helped the Pittsburgh Pirates complete a five-run comeback against the New York Mets in Monday night's series opener. Getting to New York's bullpen again, though, might be tougher with Johan Santana on the mound.

LaRoche and the Pirates take on Santana and the Mets as the teams continue a four-game set Tuesday night at PNC Park.

Santana (7-2, 1.77 ERA), the NL ERA leader, is looking to win his fourth straight start to become the league's first eight-game winner.

He has pitched at least six innings in nine of his 10 appearances this season but will have a little extra pressure after the Mets (28-22) bullpen suffered a rare meltdown in an 8-5 loss to the Pirates (23-28) on Monday. Starter Livan Hernandez left that game after 5 2-3 innings with a 5-3 lead.

Adam LaRoche had three hits, including two doubles, and two runs scored, while brother Andy added two hits and three RBIs. Adam LaRoche started the comeback with a leadoff double in the eighth. After Eric Hinske grounded out, the Pirates hit four consecutive singles, including one by pinch-hitter Delwyn Young that put Pittsburgh ahead 6-5.

"Late in the game we came up with some big hits with runners on base," Adam LaRoche said. "That's what we've been missing. A lot of these games, we've been getting some opportunities and not taking advantage of them, and we did tonight."

Monday's win was the Pirates' second in six games and fourth in 11. Adam LaRoche is hitting .400 (8 for 20) with three doubles, four walks and five runs scored in his last six games.

He's 0 for 5 with four strikeouts against Santana, who is 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts and a relief appearance against the Pirates. Santana allowed two runs and five hits in 14 2-3 innings over two starts against the Pirates last season. The Mets won both of those games with Santana picking up the victory in a three-hitter at PNC Park on August 17.

The left-hander allowed three runs and three hits over six innings of a 7-4 win over Washington on Wednesday. He walked a season-high six, but struck out 11, throwing a season-high 120 pitches.

"I don't know, something was wrong. It was a crazy night," Santana said. "I've never seen anything like that. The only thing that was good about it was that we won the game."

The Mets hope he can help them bounce back after Monday's defeat. J.J. Putz was charged with the blown save and the loss. It was New York's sixth blown save this season after it finished third in the majors last season with 29.

"That's how we're designed, map it out the way we did tonight, to try to get to that point," manager Jerry Manuel said. "And when you get there and it happens like that, it's a little tough to overcome."

The Mets have lost six of eight on the road.

They'll face Zach Duke (5-4, 2.75), who has pitched well in his last two starts. After allowing two runs in a complete-game loss to the Chicago White Sox on May 22, Duke gave up two runs and eight hits over seven innings of a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision.

Duke is 2-1 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts against the Mets. He yielded 11 runs - nine earned - over 12 innings in two starts against them last season.

David Wright is 5 for 15 with a home run and double against Duke.