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Diamondbacks-Mets Preview

Jul 31, 2010 - 4:28 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Arizona (37-65) at New York (52-50), 7:10 p.m. EDT

If the New York Mets plan on getting back into the NL East race, they must find a way to start beating clubs like the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mets have dropped all four games they've played against the last-place Diamondbacks since the All-Star break, and would be ensured of their sixth loss in seven series with another defeat Saturday night at Citi Field.

New York (52-51) has seen its division deficit go from four games at the break to 7 1/2 heading into Saturday, and a lack of success against Arizona (38-65) is a big reason why.

The Diamondbacks outscored the Mets 20-7 in a three-game sweep at Phoenix from July 19-21, then lost seven straight before arriving at Citi Field on Friday. Kelly Johnson and Miguel Montero homered in a sixth inning during which Arizona scored five times with two outs en route to a 9-6 victory.

"For some reason, these guys play extremely well against us," said third baseman David Wright, who had two homers and five RBIs in the loss.

Wright isn't kidding. The Mets have lost 11 of 14 to Arizona since May 4, 2008, and are 9-14 against the six NL clubs currently under .500.

New York's task doesn't get any easier Saturday against rookie Barry Enright (2-2, 2.73 ERA), who dominated the Mets last week. The right-hander held Jerry Manuel's club to a run and five hits over eight innings and struck out eight in a 3-2 win July 20.

"He threw some sharp breaking balls for strikes that he really seemed to have a good feel for," Manuel said of Enright.

Enright followed that performance by holding San Francisco to two runs over six innings Sunday in a 3-2, 10-inning loss.

One player he won't have to worry about facing is Jason Bay, whom the Mets placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to the series opener. Bay was diagnosed with a concussion upon arriving home from the team's 11-game road trip, an injury sustained July 23 when he crashed into the bullpen gate in Los Angeles.

Angel Pagan will receive the bulk of the playing time in left field with Bay out, while Jeff Francoeur will play regularly in right. To fill Bay's spot, the Mets called up outfielder Jesus Feliciano from Triple-A Buffalo, where he was leading the International League with a .346 batting average.

Feliciano went 16 for 55 (.291) with four doubles in 21 games in the majors from June 8-July 11.

New York hands the ball to Hisanori Takahashi (7-5, 4.47 ERA), who has shuffled between the rotation and the bullpen. The left-hander held the Dodgers to two runs and three hits over seven innings July 22 in his last start, a 2-0 loss, but had his latest turn skipped.

Takahashi, who has never faced Arizona, pitched a perfect inning of relief Wednesday against St. Louis.

One positive for Takahashi and the Mets on Saturday is they almost certainly won't see Montero in the lineup. The left-handed hitting catcher, who had four RBIs on Friday and is hitting .486 with 10 RBIs in his last eight games versus New York, has just three hits in 19 at-bats (.158) against southpaws this season.