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May 15, 2009 - 7:06 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (19-15) at San Francisco (18-16), 10:15 p.m. EDT

David Wright is playing a key role in helping the NL East-leading New York Mets withstand some key absences.

The Mets third baseman looks to continue his hot hitting when he faces Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

Wright is 11 for 24 (.458) with a double, two triples, five RBIs and five stolen bases over the last six games, contributing to four wins for New York (19-15).

The three-time All-Star sparked the Mets to a 7-4 win in the opener of this four-game series Thursday night.

Wright got a hit in all three at-bats while driving in two runs and delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning. He also stole a career-high four bases as New York set a franchise record with seven steals despite playing without speedy leadoff hitter Jose Reyes.

"I got a few opportunities early," Wright said. "I like putting pressure on the defense, and I like to keep the pitcher on his toes to make him focus on the baserunners."

Reyes, the Mets' all-time leader with 301 stolen bases, could be back Friday after a stiff right calf incurred during the team's cross-country flight made him a late scratch Thursday.

Wright's impressive production has come with slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado out of the lineup. Delgado could land on the disabled list after missing the last four games and eight of 16 with an ailing right hip.

New York is also without top setup man J.J. Putz, who's unlikely to be available Friday after receiving an injection to alleviate inflammation in his right elbow.

Wright is hitting .357 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 28 games against the Giants (18-16). He's had five at-bats versus Lincecum and gotten one hit.

Lincecum (3-1, 3.25 ERA), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 36 innings over his last five starts.

He was solid Sunday, allowing four runs - three earned - and six hits while striking out eight in six innings of a 7-5, 13-inning victory at Los Angeles.

Lincecum, however, is 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA in two career starts against the Mets, although both came on the road. He faced them once last season and gave up four runs and nine hits - two homers - in six innings of a 7-0 defeat July 8.

He'll try for better results at home, where he's 6-1 with a 2.49 ERA in his last nine starts dating to last season.

The Mets, winners of six in a row over San Francisco, will counter with journeyman Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.08), who appears to be solidifying the back of the rotation after winning his last two starts with a 2.19 ERA. That's a vast improvement from the veteran's first four outings of 2009, when he went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA.

Hernandez battled through six innings Sunday, allowing two runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and four walks in an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh.

The right-hander went 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA in three starts for Colorado against the Giants, one of his seven former clubs, last year.