(Sports Network) - Coming off three shutout losses in five games, the Mets just needed some fresh faces to find the scoreboard. Thanks to a shutout victory of its own yesterday, New York can win its first series since late June with a triumph today over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three- game series at Citi Field.

The Mets had scored just 10 runs over their previous seven games, losing six of those contests, as this series didn't get off to a great start on Friday with New York dropping a 3-0 decision. However, with ace Johan Santana on the hill last night, the Mets turned the table and notched a 4-0 win to put themselves into position for their first series win since taking two of three from St. Louis on June 23-25.

Santana threw seven shutout innings on Saturday, allowing five hits while striking out five.

"I knew coming into this game I had to step it up and I did," said Santana. "We did everything the right way and allowed us to win the game. We stepped up the pressure."

Jeff Francoeur, acquired from the Braves on Friday for Ryan Church, contributed immediately with a two-run single in his first at-bat with the club. Angel Pagan donated a triple and scored twice in the win, as he was playing in just his second game since returning from a groin injury that sidelined him through all of June and the beginning of July.

Francoeur and Pagan provided a spark to an offense that is still without Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran.

For the Reds, not only did they lose the game on Saturday, but the club also lost Jay Bruce to a fractured right wrist, as he landed awkwardly after trying to make a catch in the first inning. X-rays showed the fracture and Bruce will be further examined today in Cincinnati, but it is thought he will miss four- to-six weeks.

"It's tough news on Jay Bruce," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "It seems you get one guy back and lose another guy. We're being tested in some kind of way, but have to keep pushing and keep fighting."

Chris Dickerson is expected to replace Bruce in the starting lineup and help an offense that managed just six hits yesterday in losing for the fifth time in seven games. One of those hits did belong to Joey Votto, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games.

Reds starter Aaron Harang's winless stretch is up to eight games, a rut he would like to end today. Harang is 0-4 with a 4.63 earned run average over the slide, though the Reds have won all four of his no-decisions in that span.

The right-hander hasn't factored into the decision of his last two starts, including on Tuesday versus the Phillies after allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings of a 4-3 victory. On the season, Harang is 5-8 with a 3.89 ERA.

The 31-year-old lost to the Mets on April 6 in his first start of 2009 despite five innings of one-run ball. In five career starts versus the club, Harang is 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA.

Mets starter Mike Pelfrey will try to rebound today from his shortest outing of the season last time out, as he lasted just three innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. The righty was charged with five runs (4 earned) on eight hits and three walks in the loss that dropped him to 6-4 with a 4.52 ERA this year.

Pelfrey is 2-1 with a 4.97 ERA in five games (4 starts) lifetime against Cincinnati, and he beat the club on April 8 even though he allowed four runs over five innings of a 9-7 win.

The Mets won two of three in Cincinnati when the clubs met there on April 6-9. This marks the Reds first trip to Citi Field.