Mets-Astros Preview

Questions were raised when the New York Mets swapped their struggling right fielder for their division rivals' underachieving right fielder.

But since Jeff Francoeur was acquired from the Atlanta Braves for Ryan Church on July 10, the Mets have received a much-needed boost to their ailing lineup.

New York goes for its first series win on the road since early June on Sunday afternoon when it faces the Houston Astros in the finale of the three-game set.

When the NL East foes traded outfielders earlier this month, Francoeur was batting .250 with five homers and 35 RBIs for Atlanta, while Church was 1 for 19 in his previous five games with New York.

"He seems to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said when the deal was made. "He seems very excited about being here, about playing in New York."

It's definitely worked out for the Mets' new right fielder, who is batting .333 (15 for 45) with two homers and 12 RBIs in 11 games since the trade.

After Mets slugger Gary Sheffield was placed on the disabled list earlier in the day with a strained right hamstring, Francoeur hit a three-run homer and drove in a season-high four runs as New York (45-51) snapped a three-game slide with Saturday's 10-3 victory over the Astros (50-47), who had won four in a row.

"We haven't had a game like this in a long time, where you just kind of cruise and you don't have to worry about too much at the end of the game," Francoeur said.

It was the most runs for New York since an 11-0 victory over St. Louis on June 24.

"We swung the bats well," said Manuel, whose club is 3-6 on the trip that ends Sunday. "It was all good tonight."

Mets third baseman David Wright and catcher Omir Santos each hit solo shots as New York matched a season high with three homers. Wright's ninth-inning home run was his first in 75 at-bats. He is 5 for 13 with two doubles lifetime against Astros scheduled starter Brian Moehler.

The Houston right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA in four July outings. Moehler (7-5, 4.92 ERA) won his second straight start after giving up two runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings in Monday's 3-2 victory over St. Louis.

"I left some pitches up, and they got some hits off them," Moehler told the Astros' official Web site after Carlos Lee's three-run shot erased the Cardinals' 2-0 lead.

Moehler is 2/3 with 3.19 ERA in five starts versus the Mets.

New York counters with right-hander Livan Hernandez (6-5, 4.93), who will try to lead the Mets to their first series win on the road since taking two of three at Washington from June 5-7.

At Washington on Monday, Hernandez lasted seven innings and yielded two runs and five hits as New York won 6-2, ending a personal four-start losing streak.

"I was kind of anxiously waiting for him to get through the first inning, and once he did that, he began to cruise," Manuel said.

Hernandez is 9-5 with a 4.25 ERA in 15 starts against the Astros.

Houston right fielder Hunter Pence hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning Saturday. He is 4 for 7 with two doubles lifetime versus Hernandez.