(My Sportsbook) - Veteran right-hander Esteban Loaiza will be seeking his third straight win over the New York Mets and sixth in eight decisions overall, when the Washington Nationals head back to Shea Stadium Wednesday for the second of a three-game set.

Loaiza is 2-1 versus the Mets this season, having thrown 6 1/3 innings in a 7-4 win on August 21 and eight innings of six-hit ball for a 3-2 victory on July 5.

Kris Benson will counter for the Mets and has had mixed results against the Nationals. He was lit up for eight hits and six runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a matchup with Loaiza on August 21, but got a no-decision in a Mets' win on July 7 after tossing seven strong innings with two earned runs and six strikeouts.

Washington took the first game of the series, which is of vital importance to both teams' scant remaining National League wild card hopes, with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night. The win kept the Nationals four games off the pace of wild card front-runner Florida.

The Mets, meanwhile, dropped two games under .500 and are now 6 1/2 behind the Marlins with precious little time remaining to regain ground.

In Tuesday's game, Brad Wilkerson had an RBI and scored a run. Marlon Byrd and Preston Wilson also drove in a run for the Nationals, who put an end to a two- game losing streak.

Marlon Anderson hit a solo homer for the Mets, who have dropped seven of their last eight games.

Tom Glavine (10-13) took the loss after permitting three runs and eight hits over seven innings. Glavine, who also knocked in a run, struck out three.

After Glavine's RBI single in the second gave New York the lead, the Nationals responded with three runs in the third.

Cristian Guzman led off with a ground-rule double, moved to third when Hector Carrasco reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Wilkerson's base hit. Byrd then followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1 and Wilson's two-out hit plated Wilkerson for a two-run edge.

Anderson's solo homer in the fourth inning brought the Mets within 3-2, but that was as close as they would get. Washington added an insurance run in the ninth as Brian Schneider led off with a single against Braden Looper. Guzman then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Ramon Castro's throwing error allowed Schneider to score all the way from first. Chad Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his major league-leading 45th save.

Gary Majewski (4-3) was credited with the win after tossing two scoreless innings.

New York leads the season series, 8-6.