Washington @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2010 ) Washington 1, NY Mets 2
Even on a night when a pair of rookies gave the New York Mets something to celebrate, the looming fallout of a disappointing season left a dark cloud over the team's clubhouse.
New York will try to play through that impending storm when it continues a season-ending three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Citi Field.
A Sports Illustrated report Friday cited unnamed sources who claim that Mets manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya are on their way out after the season ends Sunday. Both men said they have not been notified of such a move.
The Mets are about to wrap up a second consecutive losing season, and they have made the playoffs only once - in 2006 - since reaching the World Series in 2000.
The Mets had something to cheer about on Friday, though. Rookie catcher Josh Thole's home run in the 10th inning gave them a 2-1 win in the series opener, snapping New York's three-game losing streak. Fellow rookie Ike Davis also homered for the Mets.
New York's win evened the season series at eight wins apiece.
The Mets turn to another rookie, 32-year-old left-hander Raul Valdes, to try to pick up where the pitching staff left off Friday, when Pat Misch and Hisanori Takahashi combined on a three-hitter.
Valdes (3-3, 5.23 ERA) has made 37 relief appearances for the Mets this year, but Saturday will mark the Cuban's first major-league start.
His longest outing of the year came against Washington on May 20, when he relieved injured starter John Maine in the first inning and went five innings, allowing three runs and picking up the win in a 10-7 victory.
Valdes has made five appearances against the Nationals, going 2-1 with a 5.19 ERA over 8 2/3 innings.
Fellow Cuban Yunesky Maya (0-3, 6.43 ERA) will get the start for the Nationals. The 29-year-old right-hander is making his fourth start since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 7, when he made his major-league debut against the Mets.
In that one, Maya allowed four runs and five hits over five innings and took the loss in a 4-1 defeat. Davis did most of the damage with a three-run homer.
With 71 RBIs, Davis needs only three more to match Darryl Strawberry's franchise record for rookies. His 19 home runs also rank second behind Strawberry, who hit 26 in 1983.
The Nationals didn't do much at the plate Friday, but one of their three hits was outfielder Mike Morse's 14th home run.
Morse has hit .324 with five homers since Aug. 27 and is lobbying for a starting role next season. The homer was only his third hit in 24 at-bats against the Mets this season.