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Mets-Padres Preview

Aug 7, 2009 - 6:11 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (51-57) at San Diego (45-65), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Though the San Diego Padres have regressed under Bud Black, management realizes the team's struggles aren't all his fault. Jerry Manuel certainly deserves a similar show of confidence from the New York Mets.

Black, who has been given a contract extension, looks to lead the Padres to a second straight win against Manuel and the injury-depleted Mets on Friday night at Petco Park.

San Diego (45-65), in last place in the NL West, extended Black's contract through the 2010 season prior to opening this four-game series with an 8-3 victory Thursday night.

The Padres will have a club option for 2011. Black was named manager in November 2006, lost in a one-game playoff to Colorado in his first season and went 63-99 the following year.

Black hasn't fared any better this season as he tries to make do with an inexperienced club.

"I'm happy for him," San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. "He's a quality guy. We all enjoy playing for him."

Manuel, meanwhile, seems to be doing the best he can with the Mets (51-57), who have been dealing with an exceptional amount of injuries. Carlos Beltran (knee), Carlos Delgado (hip), Jose Reyes (calf) and John Maine (shoulder) are at the forefront of New York's disabled list.

Luis Castillo (ankle) was not in the lineup to start this series and is day to day, according to Manuel. The veteran second baseman was hurt tumbling down the dugout steps on his way back to the bench in a 12-7, 10-inning loss to St. Louis on Tuesday.

Left fielder Gary Sheffield, just off the disabled list last weekend, aggravated a hamstring injury in that contest and sat out Thursday but doesn't expect to be out for long. He leads the Mets with 10 home runs.

New York, which has lost six of eight, tried to add some depth Thursday, acquiring infielder Anderson Hernandez from Washington for a minor leaguer. He is hitting .251 with nine doubles, a homer and 23 RBIs in 231 at-bats.

San Diego also made a deal Thursday, trading starting pitcher Chad Gaudin to the New York Yankees. Gaudin was struggling for the Padres, whose starters have a 5.10 ERA.

Kevin Correia (7-9, 4.73) will next take the mound for San Diego. He has surrendered three runs or fewer in four of his last five outings.

The right-hander gave up three runs in 6 1-3 innings of San Diego's 6-1 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.

Correia has lost each of his two starts against the Mets despite posting a 2.08 ERA.

New York will counter with Oliver Perez (2-3, 7.03), who continues to have control problems, walking 47 in 48 2-3 innings. The left-hander gave up three runs and walked five in five innings of New York's 9-6 win over Arizona on Saturday.

Perez is 2-3 with a 4.55 ERA in six starts against the Padres.

San Diego has a major league-worst .236 batting average but had 12 hits against New York after being held to a total of four runs in consecutive losses to Atlanta.