(Sports Network) - Jerry Manuel is already set to do something Willie Randolph hadn't done all season -- give David Wright the day off. New York's All-Star third baseman isn't expected to be in the starting lineup tonight, when the Mets continue a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners at Shea Stadium.

Wright went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk in Monday's series-opening 5-2 setback to the Mariners. He also committed a costly error in the second inning that prolonged the frame, and Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez followed the miscue with a grand slam that put the Mariners up 4-0.

Wright is currently the only major leaguer to play every inning of every game this season, including one start as a designated hitter., But without a last- minute change from Manuel, who took over for the fired Randolph last Tuesday, he will lose that distinction tonight. He is hitting .154 (2-for-13) over his last four games and despite leading the team with 12 homers, Wright hasn't gone deep since June 10.

It seems a curious time to sit Wright, seeing as the Mets managed just four hits in last night's loss, just the club's third in eight games. Carlos Beltran accounted for two of the hits, driving in a run and scoring once. Jose Reyes had the two, both singles.

Mets starter Johan Santana (7-6) was lifted after being charged with seven hits and five runs -- one earned -- over seven innings.

Meanwhile, Hernandez clubbed the first grand slam by an American League pitcher in 37 years, then departed the contest with a sprained left ankle sustained when trying to cover home on a wild pitch. He left the game after allowing two hits and a run over 4 2/3 innings.

In addition to hitting the first homer by a pitcher in Mariners history, Hernandez hit the first grand slam by an AL hurler since Cleveland's Steve Dunning on May 11, 1971.

Jose Lopez had two hits and an RBI for the Mariners, who opened the three-game series with their third victory in 10 games while improving to 2-2 on a four- game road trip. Also, Adrian Beltre returned to the Seattle lineup after missing two games with a bruised left index finger. He had a hit and scored once.

Seattle used four pitchers in relieving Hernandez, and its bullpen will likely be on display again tonight with R.A. Dickey scheduled to start. In addition to posting two very short starts over the past 1 1/2 weeks, the right-hander tossed two innings of relief on Sunday in an 8-3 loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out three.

Dickey allowed seven runs on eight hits over just 1 2/3 frames of a start against Washington on June 13, then was tagged for five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings against Florida five days later. The 33-year-old knuckleballer is 0-3 with a 13.05 ERA in his three starts this season, compared to a 1.96 ERA in eight appearances out of the pen.

He has faced the Mets once in relief back in 2003, allowing two runs over 2 2/3 innings. Dickey, though, is 1-3 with a 13.50 ERA in nine career interleague games, four of those starts.

Oliver Perez goes for the Mets, and although he is undefeated (1-0) over his last three outings, he didn't pitch well last time out. Against the Angels on Wednesday, the lefty allowed four runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings of a no-decision.

Perez, who is 5-4 with a 5.06 ERA in 15 starts this season, is 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. He has walked 15 Mariners in just 16 1/3 innings against them, but has also fanned 21.

The Mariners are 6-1 all-time against the Mets in the regular season, having swept a three-game set at home when the clubs last met in 2005. New York hosted Seattle from June 6-8 in 2003, winning the opener of that set before dropping the next two.