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Mets-Nationals Preview

Sep 8, 2010 - 3:20 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

New York (67-71) at Washington (60-78), 12:35 p.m. EDT

A New York Mets rookie nearly shut down the Washington Nationals in his major league debut. R.A. Dickey will try to deliver a similar performance.

Dickey gets the ball Wednesday afternoon when the Mets try to close their 10-game trip with a series win.

Called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace ace Johan Santana (strained left pectoral muscle), right-hander Dillon Gee struck out four and threw seven innings of two-hit ball in Tuesday's 4-1 victory. Washington (60-79) averaged 10.0 runs and batted .345 while winning its previous three games.

"I tried to stay ahead of these guys and keep them guessing," said Gee, whose no-hit bid ended when Willie Harris led off the sixth with a home run.

The Mets (68-71), who last won back-to-back games Aug. 20-21 at Pittsburgh, give the ball to Dickey (9-6, 2.91 ERA) in the series finale. New York had won his previous four starts, but the knuckleballer surrendered a season-high seven runs and eight hits in Friday's 7-6 loss at the Chicago Cubs.

It was the most runs allowed by the right-hander since he gave up eight with Seattle on Aug. 20, 2008.

"I kind of have to step up and own that and be accountable there because anytime we score six runs, we need to win the ball game," said Dickey, who has no record with a 1.38 ERA in two starts in the nation's capital this season.

Dickey will try to reach double-digits wins for the first time.

Nationals right-hander Livan Hernandez (9-10, 3.81) is looking to reach that plateau for the 11th time. Making his first start since signing a one-year extension, the 35-year-old yielded a season high-tying eight runs and eight hits over 4 1-3 innings of Friday's 8-5 loss at Pittsburgh.

"I tried my best, but I never get frustrated," Hernandez told the Nationals' official web site. "(If) you get frustrated what good is it going to do? It's not happening sometimes - when it's not your day, it's not your day."

Hernandez, who was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA before being released by the Mets last season, is 1-0 with a 1.33 ERA in three starts versus New York in 2010.

Mets rookie Ike Davis is batting .345 with two home runs and seven RBIs in eight games at Nationals Park after going 2 for 3 with a three-run homer Tuesday.

New York could have David Wright and Jose Reyes back in the lineup as it goes for its fourth win on the trip. Wright was a late scratch Tuesday after bruising his left ring finger in Monday's 13-3 loss, while Reyes has been sidelined the last 11 games with a right oblique strain.

Wright is 12 for 39 with three doubles and four home runs versus Hernandez.

New York has split eight games at Washington and will try to win the season series there for the fifth time since the Nationals franchise relocated prior to the 2005 season.