New York @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) NY Mets 1, San Diego 3

The New York Mets want to be part of the wild-case race in the National League, but getting to .500 is the first chore. The Mets lost the opener of a three-game series to the host San Diego Padres to fall three games below the break-even mark. Beating teams like San Diego is imperative for New York, which is 5-4 on an 11-game road trip that concludes Sunday. San Diego is 18 games below .500.

The Padres recently doled out contract extensions to outfielder Carlos Quentin and closer Huston Street and both players were crucial factors in why San Diego handed Mets starter R.A. Dickey his third loss of the season. Quentin bowled through New York catcher Josh Thole to knock the ball loose and score the go-ahead run while Street was dominating with a four-out save that makes him 18-for-18 in save opportunities. Mets outfielder Jason Bay was hitless in three at-bats in the opener and is mired in a 2-for-36 funk.

TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (1-4, 5.52 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (7-7, 3.51)

Hefner is making his sixth start with his lone victory coming May 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He received a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants in his last outing when he gave up four runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Hefner lost to the Padres in May when he was roughed up for six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Volquez has won four consecutive decisions. He beat the Cincinnati Reds – his former club – in his last outing when he gave up five runs and six hits in five innings. Volquez had allowed just seven earned runs over six starts prior to the Cincinnati contest. He lost to New York in May when he allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings and has a 0-3 mark and 5.32 ERA in four career starts against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. Street hasn’t allowed a run in 18 consecutive outings and has allowed just three hits in 17 1/3 innings during the stretch.

2. Mets 3B David Wright is a career .301 hitter against the Padres but is just 1-for-7 against Volquez.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley has a .338 average in 21 career games against New York.