• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Santana hungry for win as Mets host Padres

Aug 7, 2008 - 2:05 PM San Diego (44-70) at Ny Mets (59-54) 12:10 pm. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Johan Santana is near the top of the National League in every category - except wins. The ace hopes to win for the third time in 12 starts on Thursday as the New York Mets face the San Diego Padres.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana (9-7, 2.86 ERA) has had some tough luck as a Met. The lefthander is fifth in ERA, 11th in strikeouts (122) and eighth in the league with a 1.17 WHIP.

However, Santana has two wins in his last six starts, despite a 2.45 ERA over that span. A big reason has been the Mets' beleaguered bullpen, which is even more shaky without All-Star closer Billy Wagner (strained forearm). Wagner, who was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, cost Santana a win on Saturday.

Santana allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, but Wagner blew the save in a 5-4, 10-inning loss to Houston.

"It's just another outing," Santana said. "I was battling, doing my job and trying to give the team a chance to win."

The Mets have a great chance to win every time their ace takes the hill, and he hopes to help them bounce back from a 4-2 loss on Wednesday. Jody Gerut, rookie Chase Headley and Brian Giles all homered to help San Diego to its second win in the last seven games.

The Padres send Josh Banks (3-4, 3.65) to the hill. Banks allowed two runs - one earned - and eight hits in seven innings, but did not factor into the decision in a 3-2 loss to San Francisco on Friday.