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Astros-Mets Preview

Aug 28, 2010 - 4:37 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Houston (58-69) at New York (63-64), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Johan Santana has a chance to become the first New York Mets pitcher in 22 years to throw four consecutive complete games. He would probably settle for a mere win.

The left-hander will try to avoid a season-high third straight defeat while helping the Mets continue their recent home dominance of the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

If Santana can go the distance again, he would match Dwight Gooden's streak of consecutive complete games from April 15-May 1, 1988. The left-hander would also become the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat since Roy Halladay from April 12-29, 2008.

Despite throwing complete games, Santana has lost his last two starts. He allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked one in a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He fanned seven during a 4-3 defeat at Houston on Aug. 17.

"You hate to waste that by the ace of the staff," outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "When we look back at end of season, we'll see a lot of missed opportunities with him."

Santana (10-8, 2.94 ERA) has enjoyed better luck at home, where he's 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA over his last four starts. He would appear to have a good chance to extend that run as the Mets (64-64) have won 19 of 25 at home over the Astros (58-70), including five straight.

Santana, however, has posted a 5.52 ERA during consecutive losses to Houston and is 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA in four career starts against the Astros.

David Wright went 0 for 3 on Friday night but recorded his seventh RBI in six games during a 2-1 Mets victory, which snapped Houston's five-game winning streak. The third baseman is batting .395 with four homers in his last 11 contests.

Wright is 7 for 32 in his career against Brett Myers (9-7, 3.08), but four of those hits were home runs.

While Santana has on a pair of streaks to focus on, Myers will try to become the first Astros pitcher to throw at least six innings in 27 consecutive outings.

He tied Larry Dierker's team record, set June 20, 1969-April 17, 1970, during Monday's 3-2 win over his former Philadelphia teammates. Myers owns the longest such streak in the majors since Curt Schilling pitched at least six innings in all 35 of his starts in 2002 for Arizona.

"Mr. Myers does it again," manager Brad Mills told the Astros' official website. "He's been doing that all year, and he worked through some things and did an absolutely outstanding job."

Myers, 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last three starts, did not get a decision against the Mets at home Aug. 18 but is 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in his last five starts in New York, the most recent on Sept. 5, 2008.

The status of New York shortstop Jose Reyes is unknown because of a strained right oblique. He re-aggravated the injury in Thursday night's 11-4 loss to Florida.