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Mets hope Santana can give bullpen a rest

Apr 18, 2008 - 1:46 PM NY Mets (8-6) at Philadelphia (8-8) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The New York Mets would love nothing more than a long outing from Johan Santana.

Santana takes the mound on Friday as the Mets visit the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series.

New York, which has won three straight, could certainly use a long outing from its ace. The Mets burned through six relievers before Damion Easley scored on a wild pitch a 3-2, 14-inning victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Santana (1-2, 3.05 ERA) will look to bounce back from a rough outing in his home debut. The lefthander allowed five runs - four earned - and six hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.

Santana will be opposed by fellow lefthander Cole Hamels (2-1, 0.82), who will look to maintain his stellar start to the season. The 24-year-old lefthander has won two straight starts and has allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings.

The Phillies, who posted a 10-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday, will be without shortstop Jimmy Rollins for a ninth straight game. Rollins, who is bothered by a lingering ankle injury, has left the team to attend a funeral.

The Mets have won two straight over the Phillies after losing the previous nine meetings.