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Alou, banged-up Mets look to continue success in Washington

Aug 18, 2007 - 1:28 PM NY Mets (68-53) at Washington (55-67) 7:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The New York Mets are banged up, but they are enjoying their stay in Washington.

Moises Alou and the Mets look to continue their dominance over the Washington Nationals in the middle game of a three-game series on Saturday.

Alou hit his fifth home run in the last seven games and Tom Glavine threw seven outstanding innings, as the Mets posted a 6-2 win in the opener on Friday. Damion Easley homered playing in place of the injured Carlos Delgado, and Mike DiFelice had a two-run triple while filling in for Paul Lo Duca as the Mets won for the 18th time in the last 23 meetings here.

Oliver Perez (10-8, 3.46 ERA) takes the mound for New York (68-53), which leads Philadelphia (65-56) by three games in the National League East.

Perez has had a nightmarish past few weeks, allowing 15 runs and 21 hits in his last three starts. On Sunday, Perez surrendered four runs and six hits in five innings in a 10-4 loss to the Florida Marlins.

John Lannan (1-1, 3.00), who is winless in his last two starts, get the ball for Washington. The 22-year-old lefthander has allowed just two runs in his last 14 innings.

Last Saturday, Lannan allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, but was outdueled by the Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb in a 1-0 loss.