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Mets-Nationals Preview

Jul 21, 2009 - 3:24 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (43-48) at Washington (26-65), 7:05 p.m. EDT

It was revealed Monday night that the Mets have given general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel votes of confidence. The timing couldn't have been better with New York playing the lowly Washington Nationals.

The Mets will try to hand the Nationals a seventh straight loss Tuesday night when they continue a three-game series in Washington.

New York (44-48) - which owns the second-highest payroll in the majors - has endured an injury-plagued season, but Minaya disclosed some good news during the series opener. The general manager said he recently spoke with Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, and Wilpon was supportive.

"I want you to be our general manager, and I want Jerry to be our manager," Minaya said he was told by Wilpon "a couple of weeks ago."

After losing three of four in Atlanta following the All-Star break, the Mets predictably recovered with a 6-2 victory Monday. Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in two runs as New York improved to 8-2 against Washington this year.

"We've been pressing a little bit," Francoeur said. "I know it's been a little difficult time in here."

New York's Gary Sheffield missed his third straight game with a sore right hamstring, but was available to pinch-hit. Manuel indicated Sheffield will likely sit again Tuesday in favor of Fernando Tatis in left field.

Washington (26-66) fell to 0-5 since Jim Riggleman took over as manager for Manny Acta, who was fired during the break. The Nationals have scored a total of 13 runs during their six-game slide.

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was given the night off by Riggleman. Zimmerman is mired in a .179 (10 for 56) slump over his last 13 games.

Mets left-hander Oliver Perez (2-2, 7.99 ERA) will make his third start since spending more than two months on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right knee. Perez is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA since returning.

The erratic Perez did not get a decision Thursday after allowing three runs in six innings of a 5-3 loss at Atlanta.

Perez is 3-4 with a 7.29 ERA in nine career starts against Washington. He lost his lone outing versus the Nationals in 2009, giving up seven runs over 4 1-3 innings in an 8-1 home loss on April 26.

Washington's John Lannan (6-7, 3.64) has won his last two home outings versus the Mets. He pitched a four-hitter for the only complete game of his career June 6 in a 7-1 win over New York.

Lannan lost his other start this year against the Mets on May 25, yielding five runs over five-plus innings in a 5-2 loss.

The left-hander is a New York native who has dropped consecutive starts for the third time this season. He surrendered three runs over 6 2-3 innings Thursday in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.