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Nationals try to send Robinson off with win

Oct 1, 2006 - 3:35 PM NY Mets (96-65) at Washington (71-90) 1:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals look to send manager Frank Robinson off in proper fashion as they conclude the season in the finale of a three-game series with the New York Mets on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Nationals' organization decided it will not bring back the 71-year-old Robinson next year.

Robinson, whose contract expires on October 31, was named manager of the Montreal Expos in 2002 after Major League Baseball purchased the debt-ridden franchise. The Expos went 83-79 in each of Robinson's first two seasons despite a limited payroll. Last season, the Nationals posted a .500 record in 2005.

In 16 seasons as a manager with Cleveland, San Francisco, Baltimore and the Montreal-Washington franchise, Robinson has a career record of 1,065-1,087.

Washington will call Ramon Ortiz (11-15, 5.32 ERA) to the hill. The Dominican righthander goes for his second straight win after a 4-3 triumph over Philadelphia on Tuesday. He yielded two runs and 10 hits while striking out six and not walking a batter in six innings.

However, Ortiz is 0-2 this season with a 5.82 ERA in three starts against the Mets.

Since scheduled starter Steve Trachsel was scratched due to family issues, Oliver Perez (3-13, 6.71) will make his 22nd start of the year as New York goes for the sweep and its fourth straight victory. Perez was pounded in his last start, giving up six runs - three homers - and seven hits in 5 1/3 frames of a 12-0 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.

The Nationals could very well get their wish of sending out Robinson as a winner since Perez is 0-7 on the road this season with a whopping 10.13 ERA in 10 starts.

In the New York's 13-0 triumph Saturday, Endy Chavez, Julio Franco, Shawn Green, Ramon Castro and David Wright all homered for the National League East champion Mets, who finished third in the division a year ago.

Washington will finish in the cellar of the NL East for a third consecutive season.