MET NOTES
WASHINGTON – In his last 21 at-bats, Carlos Delgado has only one hit.
The Mets’ slumping cleanup hitter took his second consecutive 0-for-4 in yesterday’s 3-1 win over the Nationals.
Delgado is now hitless in his last 15 at-bats; his last hit was a first-inning RBI single Wednesday against the Padres at Shea Stadium. He went 0-for-9 in the three games versus Washington this past weekend at RFK Stadium.
“Don’t know [what the problem is],” Delgado said after yesterday’s game. “I feel like I’m seeing the ball well. I’m getting some good pitches to hit. I’m just popping it up and not driving the ball, so just make the adjustments.”
During the seven-game slump, Delgado has walked six times. But he has no extra-base hits, and his last homer was on July 30 in Atlanta.
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Billy Wagner got a groundout and strikeout to begin the ninth inning yesterday. But after he gave up a single to Marlon Anderson and a walk to Alex Escobar to put runners on first and second with two outs, Willie Randolph surprisingly came out to talk with his closer.
“Just getting him back in focus, that’s all,” Randolph said.
Asked about what Randolph said, Wagner replied, “Just giving you a breather.”
Wagner then retired Brandon Harper on a foul pop-up that Delgado made a sliding catch on.
After earning his 28th save, Wagner has converted six straight and is now 15th all-time in saves with 312. He is two behind former Giant Robb Nen for 14th.
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Paul Lo Duca did not start yesterday, and neither did Lastings Milledge. Mike DiFelice caught and Endy Chavez played right field.
Before the game, David Wright and Lo Duca were watching TV when horse racing highlights came on. Wright playfully covered Lo Duca’s eyes.
Lo Duca pinch hit in the eighth and grounded out.
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Pitching matchups for the four-game series against the Phillies: tonight, Pedro Martinez (9-4, 3.42 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (2-6, 4.97); tomorrow, Orlando Hernandez (8-8, 4.91) vs. LHP Randy Wolf (0-0, 5.27); Wednesday, Tom Glavine (12-5, 3.92) vs. RHP Jon Lieber (4-9, 5.51); Thursday, John Maine (2-3, 2.64) vs. RHP Scott Mathieson (1-3, 6.48).
