Game Time: 1:35pm
Record: 4-1 Era: 4.33 K: 36 BB: 16 WHIP: 1.43
Mets Notes:
- If not for a bullpen meltdown Monday, Hernandez would have entered this start with a 5-1 record and this additional glitter on his 2009 resume: The Mets would have won five of his six most recent starts. He’s not complaining. He’s on something of a roll, and now he faces an opponent he beat May 26 in a complete game. Hernandez allowed nine hits and a walk but only one run in that victory against the Nationals. His ERA in 35 innings on the road is 4.89. Right-handed hitters are batting .322 against him; left-handed hitters are batting .289. Austin Kearns is batting .444 with two home runs in 27 career at-bats against Hernandez.
- New York entered June just a half-game back of NL East-leading Philadelphia, but very little has gone right this month as it’s fallen three games out of first. The Mets were outscored 22-12 in being swept in three games at Pittsburgh earlier this week and have had little offense in the first two games in Washington.
- Since being traded from Washington nearly three years ago, Livan Hernandez almost has a perfect record against his former team. After losing his first start versus the Nationals following the trade, the right-hander has a 2.86 ERA in winning his last six outings against them.
- Hernandez, who pitched for the Washington franchise from 2003-06, had his best outing of 2009 against the Nationals on May 26, giving up one run and nine hits in a complete-game, 6-1 win.
- Ryan Church returns from the disabled list Sunday and creates a logjam in the Mets’ outfield. But manager Jerry Manuel left no doubt Saturday: Church is an everyday player. “He’ll be in right field,” Manuel said with no hesitation.
LINEUP (Joe Biemel and Ron Vallone must be itching to get in this)
Alex Cora, 2B
Fernando Martinez, LF
Carlos Beltran, CF
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 1B
Ryan Church(wb), RF
Brian Schneider, C
Wilson Valdez, SS
Livan Hernandez, P
Record: 0-1 Era: 5.71 K: 6 BB: 4 WHIP: 1.27
Nationals Notes:
- Right-hander Craig Stammen started for the Nationals on Tuesday and kept them in the game against the Giants. He lasted six innings and gave up five runs — four earned — on seven hits. He got off to a slow start by giving up a first-inning home run to leadoff hitter Aaron Rowand. After giving up a one-out double to Randy Winn in the same inning, Stammen retired 11 straight batters.
- For the series finale, Acta gives the ball to rookie Craig Stammen who again seeks his first career win.Stammen allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings of a 10-6 win over San Francisco on Tuesday. Through three starts, the right-hander has yielded 12 runs and 18 hits in 17 1-3 innings. Prior to his outing against the Giants, Stammen gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 6-1 loss to the Mets.
- Adam Dunn hit his 17th home run of the season Saturday, giving him three homers in his last four games versus New York. He’s 4 for 20 with two home runs lifetime versus Hernandez.
LINEUP
Christian Guzman, SS
Nick Johnson, 1B
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Adam Dunn, LF
Elijah Dukes, CF
Austin Kearns, RF
Josh Bard, C
Anderson Hernandez, 2B
Craig Stammen, P
PLAY BALL!!
Dont forget you can chat live in the Real Dirty Dugout! LGM!
4 comments
trs86
6/7/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Well no Castillo today.
rustyjr
6/7/2009-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
On matts blog they list him as ” playing”
Kingman 26
6/7/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, I guess Jerry really filled up everyone’s breakfast bowl today with Kelloggs’ new Gritty Hearts and Nuts cereal….
metsfan4decades
6/7/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Woo-Hoo! Hope Livan is on his game today.