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Mets-Diamondbacks Preview

Aug 10, 2009 - 3:36 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

New York (51-59) at Arizona (50-61), 9:40 p.m. EDT

Mark Reynolds and the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the most recent teams to contribute to a miserable two-month stretch for the New York Mets.

After losing three of four at home to the Diamondbacks a week ago, the Mets hope for a better outcome as the teams open a three-game series at Chase Field on Monday night.

Once a serious postseason contender, injuries and inconsistency have factored in New York's 25-39 record since May 30. Though it looked like the Mets (52-59) might have regrouped after winning five in a row from July 25-30, they've lost eight of 11 after avoiding a three-game sweep at San Diego with a 5-1 win on Sunday.

Arizona (50-62), which was swept in a three-game set at Washington over the weekend, took three of four at New York from July 31-Aug. 3, and has won four of the last five contests between these clubs.

Mark Reynolds, who's homered in four straight contests, hit four of his career-high 36 in three games against New York at spacious Citi Field in the teams' last series.

"There's not a park in the big leagues that can hold him when he gets a hold of one," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said of Reynolds, who's homered 11 times in 13 games.

Reynolds, though, is 0 for 6 with four strikeouts against New York starter Mike Pelfrey (8-7, 4.75 ERA), who'll pitch on seven days' rest after being pushed back due to the birth of his first child.

The right-hander lost to Arizona in his last start after giving up three runs in five innings of a 5-2 loss on Aug. 2. Pelfrey, who started the season 4-0, has a 5.96 ERA while losing three of his last four starts.

"I know I need to be better," Pelfrey told the Mets' official Web site. "I need to be more consistent. But I plan on finishing strong, and being a lot better."

Johan Santana pitched eight strong innings and drove in a run, while Jeff Francoeur added two hits Sunday for the Mets, who won for the first time on this seven-game trip.

New York hit .231 and scored 11 runs in the series against the lowly Padres.

Francoeur, who's 8 for 18 in his last five games, is batting .300 since being traded from Atlanta on July 10. He's batting .194, however, in nine games this season against the Diamondbacks, who counter with Doug Davis (6-10, 3.67).

The left-hander, who's 2-1 with a 4.83 ERA in seven starts against the Mets, allowed two runs while walking six in six innings, but didn't receive a decision in a 3-2 win at New York on July 31.

"They were pretty patient on me, so I think I have to throw first strike, second strike, pretty quick, and then find a put-away pitch," Davis told the Diamondbacks' official Web site of his desired approach against the Mets.

Davis allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday to improve to 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts.

Arizona rookie Trent Oeltjen hit his second homer in his third major league game during Sunday's 9-2 loss at Washington that concluded a 6-4 road trip for the Diamondbacks.