Mets play game three tonight against the L.A. Dodgers and look to avoid the sweep. Mets have Livan Hernandez starting for them. He is 3-1 with a 5.59 ERA in seven starts. He goes up against Jeff Weaver who is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

Left-hander Eric Stults was scheduled to start for the Dodgers, but he was scratched Tuesday night because of a sprained thumb on his pitching hand.

Hernandez is 9-13 with a 4.42 ERA lifetime against the Dodgers, including 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in eight starts versus them since the start of the 2005 season.

Weaver is 2-1 with a 6.10 ERA in five career games against New York, which he hasn’t faced since 2006.

Los Angeles’ Rafael Furcal, batting .207 with 11 strikeouts over his last 12 games, is 22 for 66 with four homers, a triple and three doubles lifetime against Hernandez.

Pitching

Hernandez gave up two hits before getting an out in the first inning. Got a ground out to first, then a sac fly got the run in.
Putz gave up a lead off hit and a walk, RBI single by Martin. 

Hernandez: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 HR, 4.93 ERA.
Putz: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, 3.91 ERA. (L 1-3)

Hitting

First run for the Mets came in the third inning. Castillo singles, and Beltran hits an RBI double.

1. Reyes: 0-2   .279
    a- Martinez: 0-3   0.00
2. Castillo: 1-3   .279
3. Beltran: 2-2   .370
4. Wright: 1-2   .362
5. Murphy: 0-4   .263
6. Church: 1-3   .276
    b- Tatis: 0-1   .284
    Putz: 0-0   0.00
7. Castro: 0-4   .239
8. Pagan: 1-4   .357
9. Hernandez: 1-3   .143
    c- Reed: 0-1   .333

a- Came in for defense in the third. Stays in the game.
b- Pinched hit for Church in eighth.
c- Double switch; Pagan goes to right field, Reed plays left and goes in 9 hole. Putz goes in 6 hole.

2B: Beltran 2 (12,13), Church (7)
RBI: Beltran (29)
R: Castillo (20)
BB: Wright 2 (26,27), Castillo (16), Beltran (27)
K: Murphy 2 (10,11)
LOB: Martinez-2, Wright-2, Murphy-7, Church-1, Tatis-2, Castro-1, Pagan-1, Hernandez-1, Reed-1. TOTAL-19  

Baserunning/Fielding

SB: Beltran (7), Pagan (1)
DP: 1 (Murphy)

Murphy had 4 unassisted outs in the game.

Additional Info

Daniel Murphy got his first start at first base, he has become the third outfielder-turned-infielder since Delgado’s injury.

“I think I probably look a little bit more comfortable in the infield,” Murphy said, “just because I’ve played there more often.”

“Murphy’s left field experiment is over,” Manuel said.

Murphy on not owning a first baseman’s glove.

“I’m using Delgado’s,” he said. “By way of Alex Cora.”

Reyes left the game in the third inning after landing awkwardly on the bag, came up limping. Aggravated the tendinitis in his right calf.

David Wright hitting streak: 12 games.

Aflac trivia question: What player hit at least 50 homeruns in a season and under 50 strikeouts?
Aflac trivia answer: Johnny Mize (1954)

307 plate appearances since last Mets homerun.

Mets have lost 4 straight games.

Game Ball

Mets: Murphy (for his glove at first base)
Dodgers: Martin (game winning single)

Game ends: 1:08 A.M.

Up Next

The Mets have the day off tomorrow before they play the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mets will be able to have a DH for the first time this season, most likely it will be Sheffield.

Ace battle on Friday, as Johan Santana (5-2, 1.36 ERA) will go up against Dice-K Matsuzaka (0-1, 12.79 ERA).