• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Santana aims to overcome struggling bullpen

Aug 12, 2008 - 1:58 PM NY Mets (62-56) at Washington (44-75) 7:10 pm. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The way the New York Mets bullpen is going,.Johan Santana may have to throw a complete game if he wants to pick up a win.

Santana, who has been victimized by the shaky bullpen more than any starter, takes the hill as the Mets aim to snap a two-game skid against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

The New York bullpen ranks near the bottom of the National League with a 4.33 ERA and has blown leads in six of Santana's starts, including two straight and three of the last four.

Santana (9-7, 2.85 ERA) is 1-0 with a 2.21 ERA in his last four starts. His lone win that span came when he threw a complete game against St. Louis on July 27. On Thursday, the lefthander allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings but failed to receive a decision in a 5-3 win over San Diego. Santana has not been the only once to see a win disappear when he leaves.

On Monday it was Pedro Martinez who was letdown by the relievers. The veteran threw six solid innings, but the Pittsburgh Pirates scored three runs in the seventh and three in the ninth to post a 7-5 victory. The loss dropped the Mets two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (64-54) in the National League East.

With New York in the thick of a pennant race, it can't afford those types of meltdowns and manager Jerry Manuel is vowing to make changes.

"We can't continue to perform that way in the game," he said. "We got to be better than that. I got to figure out what I have and who is willing to step up in those roles. I got to use all my options that I have."

Washington is coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.10) takes the hill aiming for a third straight win, but that could be tough to come by as the Nationals offense scored just five runs in the series with the Brewers.