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Mets need vintage Santana outing vs. Braves

May 22, 2008 - 12:44 PM NY Mets (22-22) at Atlanta (25-21) 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The New York Mets once again call on ace Johan Santana to help them snap out of their doldrums.

Santana takes the hill on Thursday as the Mets aim to snap a three-game skid and salvage the finale of a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

Mets manager Manager Willie Randolph has been on the hot seat and it is only getting hotter. New York has been outscored, 23-7, over the first three games. Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in four runs as the Braves posted an 11-4 victory on Wednesday.

Santana (5-2, 3.30 ERA) helped New York to a much-needed win over the rival New York Yankees in his last start, and the Mets need a similar performance this time.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed four runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 7-4 victory over the Yankees on Saturday. Santana's impressive outing came after New York lost three of four to the Washington Nationals.

Santana held the Braves to one run and seven hits in seven innings of a 3-1 loss on April 6.

The Braves counter with ace Tim Hudson (6-3, 3.06), who had won three straight starts before being touched for five runs and five hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Hudson allowed four runs and seven hits in three innings of a 4-3 loss to New York on April 26.