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Struggling Mets aim to avoid fourth straight loss vs. Astros

Aug 3, 2008 - 6:12 AM Ny Mets (58-52) at Houston (52-57) 2:05 pm. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The New York Mets aim to avoid losing four straight games for the first time in nearly two months on Sunday when they wrap up a series with the Houston Astros.

The Mets' bullpen wasted yet another solid start from ace Johan Santana on Saturday, as Geoff Blum hit a game-tying, two-run single off closer Billy Wagner and Darin Erstad plated the winning run in the 10th inning of a 5-4 victory.

New York entered the All-Star break on a nine-game winning streak, but is j7-8 since. Saturday's loss dropped the Mets into third place in the National League East, two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (60-50) and a half-game behind the Florida Marlins (59-52).

Oliver Perez (7-6, 4.02 ERA) will try and help them avoid their longest losing streak since a five-game skid from June 5-10. Perez is 2-1 with a major-league best 1.36 ERA over his last six starts. He is starting in place of John Maine, who has a strained rotator cuff. New York had an off day on Thursday, so Perez is pitching on regular rest.

The lefthander will try and contain a Houston team that has won five of six and scored 39 runs in the process. The Astros counters with their newest acquisition, Randy Wolf (6-10, 4.79). The Astros traded for Wolf on July 22 despite being well out of contention in the NL Central. The Astros have won six of eight, but are still 13 games behind the Chicago Cubs (66-45).

Wolf has fared well against New York, winning four straight starts against the Mets. In his first start with Houston, the lefthander allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 11-6 win over Milwaukee last Sunday.