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Mets vs. Nationals Preview: Game #92 — R.A. Dickey vs. Gio Gonzalez

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14:  R.A. Dickey #43 of the New York Mets pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on July 14, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14: R.A. Dickey #43 of the New York Mets pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on July 14, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Today's game notes, courtesy of @Mets.

Teams: Mets vs. Nationals
Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012 • 12:35 p.m
Location: Nationals Park • Washington, D.C.
Starters: RHP R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.66) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (12-4, 2.93)
TV/Radio: SNY • WFAN • WQBU
Info: Game #92 • Road Game #46

Starting Lineup

Ruben Tejada – SS
Andres Torres – CF
David Wright – 3B
Scott Hairston – RF
Jason Bay – LF
Ike Davis – 1B
Justin Turner – 2B
Josh Thole – C
R.A. Dickey – RHP

METS AT A GLANCE: The Mets have lost a season-high six straight games, the club’s longest losing streak since dropping six in a row from September 10-15, 2011...The last time New York had a longer losing streak was April 10-16, 2011 when the team lost seven straight contests ...New York is 2-8 in its last 10 games.

ON THE ROAD: The Mets are 0-5 on their current six-game road trip...The last time the Mets had a 0-6 road trip was September 21-26, 1999 (Atlanta, Philadelphia)...If the Mets don’t win today, it would be the eighth time in team history the club went winless on a road trip of six or more games...New York is 20-25 on the road this year...David Wright leads the majors with a .387 road batting average.

SERIES NOTES: The Mets have lost their second series of the year at Washington...New York has lost five of its last six series against the Nationals...The last time the Nationals swept the Mets in a three-game series was September 24-26, 2007 in Washington...Washington did sweep New York in a four-game series, September 12-15, 2011 at Citi Field...The Mets have been swept four times this season (at Houston, at Yankees, vs. Cincinnati and at Atlanta)...The Mets are 6-9 in road series and 13-15-2 in overall series.

DAY BASEBALL: The Mets are 21-14 during day games this year...The 21 wins are tied for the fourth-most in the majors with the White Sox and Cubs...The Giants and Reds each have 22 wins and the Tigers have 25 victories during the day...David Wright leads the National League with a .361 batting average during the day while Daniel Murphy is fourth in the NL with a .351 mark in day action.

ERROR FREE: The Mets have not made an error in a season-high 11 straight games...It’s the longest streak since the team went 11 straight without an error from July 22-August 2, 2008...The franchise record is 12 consecutive errorless games, done three times, last May 20-June 2, 2007...The Mets are 12th in the National League with a .981 fielding percentage...The Mets are 29-22 when they do not commit an error.

LAST START: R.A. Dickey received a no-decision in the Mets’ 8-7 loss vs. Atlanta at Turner Field on July 14…Pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five runs, earned, and eight hits...Walked two and struck out four...Last season, Dickey recorded eight wins in 33 games, 32 starts...His 22 quality starts also led the team last season...Has won his last 10 decisions, a career-high.

RECENT ROUGH PATCH: Dickey has allowed five earned runs in the three of his last four starts, dating to his June 24 start vs. New York...In his 38 starts prior, Dickey had allowed five earned runs or more just once...This dates back to his May 14, 2011 start at Houston in which he surrendered six earned runs in 5.1 innings...He has allowed five earned runs or more in back-to-back starts for the first time since June 13, 2008 vs. Washington and June 18, 2008 vs. Miami as a member of the Seattle Mariners...In his start vs. Washington, Dickey lasted just 1.2 innings while allowing seven runs, earned, on eight hits...In his start vs. Miami, he lasted just 3.2 innings and allowed five runs, earned, on six hits...During this four start stretch, lefthanders are hitting Dickey at a .321 clip (18-56) with six extra-base hits, 13 RBI, six walks, and 12 strikeouts...This includes his June 29 start vs. Los Angeles when lefties went 1-15 with one walk and five strikeouts...Conversely, righthanders are hitting .205 (9-44) with one extra-base hit, two RBI, one walk and 12 strikeouts during this time.

RANKS: Dickey became the first pitcher in the majors to reach 12 wins this season...Has five double-digit strikeout games this season, tied for most in the majors with Yu Darvish (Tex)...Also has recorded 14 quality starts, which is tied for fourth in the majors...Has struck out 127 in 125.0 innings this season, tied for fifth in the majors and tied for third in the NL...His K/BB ratio of 4.54 ranks sixth in the majors and fifth in the NL...Since May 12, Dickey has issued 14 walks, which ties him for 20thfewest in the majors among qualifying pitchers who have pitched a minimum of 45.0 innings...Dickey has limited opposing righthanded batters to a .180 (43-239) batting average this season, trailing only SF’s Matt Cain’s .167 (40-240) in the majors and the NL.