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Santana looks for better results in second home start

Apr 28, 2008 - 1:48 PM Pittsburgh (10-15) at NY Mets (13-11) 7:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Carlos Delgado turned boos into cheers. Johan Santana will look to do the same on Monday when the New York Mets open a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Delgado snapped out of a 4-for-46 slump by blasting a pair of home runs and received a standing ovation in a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Santana (3-2, 3.12 ERA) hopes he will be getting an ovation, and not booed off the mound like the two-time Cy Young Award winner was in his first home start on April 12 when he allowed three home runs in a 5-3 loss to Milwaukee.

Santana has won two straight starts since then. The lefthander allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings - and doubled twice - in a 7-2 victory over Washington on Wednesday.

Chances are the three-time All-Star will have much more success in his second home start against the Pirates, who have lost nine of their last 12 games.

Pittsburgh, which is coming off a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday, will send it ace Ian Snell to the hill. Snell (2-1, 4.45) yielded four runs and eight hits in six innings, but did not figure into the decision in a 7-4 victory over St. Louis on Wednesday.