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Santana seeks to end personal three-game slid vs. Phillies

Jul 4, 2008 - 1:18 PM Ny Mets (42-43) at Philadelphia (47-39) 7:05 pm. EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Johan Santana aims to avoid a losing a fourth straight start for only the second time in his career on Friday as the New York Mets visit the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a four-game series.

New York, which is 8-8 under interim manager Jerry Manuel, enters riding momentum after an 11-1 thrashing of the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Jose Reyes' major league-leading 10th triple sparked a six-run third inning and Carlos Delgado homered.

The only thing that went wrong was third baseman David Wright left in the sixth with a left groin injury suffered when he ducked a line drive while standing on first base. Wright, who leads the Mets with 15 home runs, said he will not miss any time.

"I just went down a little awkwardly, I stretched out and I'm fine," Wright said.

That is a good thing for Santana (7-7, 3.01), who can use all the support he can get. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is 0-4 in his last five starts despite a 2.53 ERA in that span. The lefthander is looking to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time since June 3-18, 2004 - the season he won his first Cy Young with Minnesota.

The Mets trail the Phillies by 4 1/2 games and will try and gain some ground against rookie lefthander J.A. Happ (NR), who is replacing an ineffective Brett Myers in the rotation. Myers accepted a demotion to Class AAA Lehigh. Valley on Tuesday after going 0-3 with a 8.57 ERA in his last five starts.

Happ made one start last season, which coincidentally came against the Mets. The 25-year-old was tagged for five runs and seven hits in four innings of a 8-3 loss on June 30. Happ is 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 starts with Lehigh.

Philadelphia is coming off a three-game sweep at Atlanta.