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Padres-Mets Preview

Jun 8, 2010 - 3:16 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (33-23) at New York (30-27), 7:10 p.m. EDT

If Mike Pelfrey's next start against the San Diego Padres goes as well as his last, the New York Mets should be in good shape.

The right-hander looks to continue his stellar season with a fifth straight win and second in eight days over the NL West-leading Padres as the Mets try for a ninth consecutive home victory Tuesday night.

After going 10-12 with a 5.03 ERA in 2009, Pelfrey (8-1, 2.39 ERA) ranks near the top of the majors in wins and ERA. He's allowed four runs and struck out 21 in 28 2-3 innings while winning his last four starts.

"He expects to go out there and dominate and that's what he's been doing," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "With him, it's just about having that confidence. And he has that now."

The right-hander had it last Tuesday, when he gave up one run and four hits while striking out a season-high eight in eight innings of a 4-2 victory at San Diego.

That was the only game New York (30-27) won during a three-game set at Petco Park, but it left an impression on the Padres.

"You can see why he's had so much success this year," San Diego catcher Nick Hundley said. "He's tough and that splitter he throws is really good."

Pelfrey, who improved 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA in four career starts against the Padres (34-23), now looks to help the Mets ride the momentum of a three-game sweep of Florida and match their longest home winning streak of the season.

Wright had three hits while Jeff Francoeur added a three-run homer as New York overcame a 5-0 deficit to beat the Marlins 7-6 on Sunday.

"This was one of those games that tests your character," Mets catcher Rod Barajas said. "That tells you what you're all about."

The Mets have won eight straight and 18 of 22 at Citi Field, improving their home mark to a major-league best 22-9.

While Wright is 13 for 25 in his last seven games, Francoeur is 18 for 36 with eight RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak. The pair combined to go 10 for 21 against San Diego last week.

Wright and Francoeur are a combined 3 for 10 versus Clayton Richard (4-3, 2.87), who will start Tuesday for the Padres.

The left-hander, 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts against the Mets, allowed one run in six innings of a 5-1, 11-inning win over New York on Wednesday.

"It was enough to keep us close." Richard told the Padres' official website.

He'll hope to do the same Tuesday as San Diego tries for a third straight victory. The Padres won the final two of a four-game road set in Philadelphia, including a 3-1 win Monday.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a pair of solo home runs - giving him three in the last two games - and Wade LeBlanc threw seven scoreless innings for the Padres, who improved to 16-11 on the road despite going hitless until the seventh.

Gonzalez is 11 for 22 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last five contests. He's 2 for 10 against Pelfrey, but both of those hits were homers.

Gonzalez is also 6 for 12 versus the Mets this season, including a game-winning grand slam Wednesday.