Mets sit slumping Wright, use Davis to hit cleanup

WASHINGTON (AP) — Slumping Mets slugger David Wright was out of the lineup against the Washington Nationals, a night after he struck out three times and made a game-ending error.

"I've never liked having off days. I don't enjoy having off days," Wright said Wednesday night. "But sometimes the staff and the coaches think it's best for the players. Those guys make those decisions and we abide by them. (Manager Jerry Manuel) told me he wanted me to take today (off). I told him I'd rather play. Ultimately, it's his decision."

Wright is 3 for 25 with a home run and four RBIs in his past seven games, and has struck out a National League-high 55 times. The career .309 hitter is batting .262 for the season.

Manuel decided to sit down his All-Star third baseman, even though the Mets were facing a pitcher, Nationals starter Livan Hernandez, Wright has done well against throughout his career.

"We have to make decisions at times to give people a break here and there," Manuel said before opening a two-game series against Washington. "I just thought today would be a good time to give him a break."

In his career against Hernandez, Wright is 12 for 36 (.333) with four homers.

Fernando Tatis took Wright's spot at third.

Wright's day off wasn't the only tinkering Manuel did with the lineup in hopes of awakening a team that has lost six of seven games.

Rookie first baseman Ike Davis hit cleanup for the first time in his major league career.

Davis is hitting .273 with four homers and 11 RBIs since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on April 19 and Manuel said the move to the fourth spot in the batting order isn't a one-game tweak.

"I think we're going to try to leave (Davis) there for a while. I think he's ready to handle that," Manuel said. "I don't think it will be a problem to him. He's a left-handed hitter that we think has the potential to be a good hitter as well as a guy with power. We'll see how it goes."

Manuel acknowledged that a 3-4-5 configuration of Wright, Davis and Bay may be in the Mets' best interests.

"That probably fits us a lot better," Manuel said.