PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW
   (WASHINGTON-NY METS)



*Resurgent Beltran leads Mets vs. Nationals*
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Washington (15-23) at NY Mets (19-16)  7:10 pm EDT


FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Carlos Beltran looks to continue
breaking out of his slump on Monday as the New York Mets open a
three-game series with the Washington Nationals.


A four-time All-Star, Beltran went 5-for-11 with a home run and
eight RBI in helping the Mets take two of three games from the
Cincinnati Reds over the weekend.


Beltran had an RBI double and a two-run homer in a 8-3 victory
over the Reds on Sunday. Prior to that series, Beltran had been
hitting a paltry .181 (17-for-94) in his last 28 games and had
not homered since April 24.


Beltran will try and help the Mets beat the Nationals for the
fifth time in six meetings this season.


Washington, which has lost five of six, will hand the ball to
Odalis Perez.  Perez (0-3, 3.43 ERA) is seeking his first
decision in five starts.  The lefthander yielded three runs and
five hits in five innings of a 4-3 loss to Houston on Wednesday.


Meanwhile, Nelson Figueroa (2-2, 4.81) will make his seventh
start in place of the injured Pedro Martinez.  Figueroa allowed
five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss to Los
Angeles on Tuesday.