(Best E Casino) - Joe Torre had seen enough of Johan Santana during his previous managerial gig. The first-year Los Angeles Dodgers skipper gets another up-close look at the New York Mets' coveted offseason acquisition tonight, when Santana attempts to pitch his new team to a series victory over the visiting Dodgers.

While a member of the Minnesota Twins, Santana went 4-0 against the New York Yankees in regular-season play during Torre's 12-year managerial tenure in the Bronx, which came to an acrimonious end at the conclusion of the 2007 season. Torre found work with the Dodgers shortly after his departure in New York, while Santana took up residence in the National League as well during the winter when the Twins shipped the two-time AL Cy Young winner to the Mets in a blockbuster trade.

Santana hasn't been dominant during his first two months as a Met, but the star left-hander has been quite good so far. He has compiled a 6-3 record and a solid 3.41 earned run average through 11 starts this season, and enters tonight's tilt having won five of his last six decisions. The Mets have also emerged victorious in seven of Santana's eight most recent outings.

The Venezuelan ace gave New York a much-needed win over Florida this past Tuesday by limiting the Marlins to three runs over seven innings in the Mets' 5-3 decision. Santana also recorded seven strikeouts while walking just two.

Santana's only career start against the Dodgers was a brilliant effort at Minnesota's Metrodome on June 28, 2006. He yielded just two hits and struck out nine over seven shutout innings to lead the Twins to a 6-3 win.

So far, the Mets have made Torre's return to New York an unwelcome homecoming by winning two of the first three tests of this four-game series. The Mets had to come from behind to capture Saturday's clash, scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 3-2 triumph.

Chad Billingsley had shut New York out over the first seven innings, but the Dodgers starter was removed prior to the eighth after having thrown 109 pitches. Reliever Jonathan Broxton (2-2) promptly gave up a leadoff double to David Wright before Carlos Beltran swatted a two-run homer to pull the Mets even.

Carlos Delgado followed Beltran's blast with a single and later scored the go- ahead run on Fernando Tatis' base hit to center.

Billy Wagner preserved the one-run advantage by striking out the side in the top of the ninth to register his 11th save. Duaner Sanchez (2-0) picked up the win for New York after throwing a scoreless top of the eighth.

The Mets, winners of four of their last five outings, were kept in the game by a solid start from Mike Pelfrey. The young right-hander held the Dodgers to two runs over seven innings of work and recorded six strikeouts.

Billingsley allowed just four hits and three walks for the reeling Dodgers, who have dropped seven of their last nine tilts and are 1-5 so far on a seven- game road trip.

Torre will hand the ball tonight to Hiroki Kuroda, whos pitched far better than his current 2-4 ledger would indicate. The Japanese League veteran has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his 11 starts during his first tour of duty in the majors, and hes worked into the seventh inning in each of his last four appearances.

Kuroda was in line for a win at Chicagos Wrigley Field on Tuesday, leaving the game with a 1-0 lead and two Cubs aboard with one out in the seventh inning. Both runners would come in to score against the Dodgers bullpen, however, and the right-hander wound up on the losing end of a 3-1 game.

The 33-year-old did struggle in a start against the Mets at Dodger Stadium earlier this month, lasting just 3 1/3 innings and surrendering four runs (2 earned) on eight hits while not factoring in the decision.

These teams have split six meetings so far this season, with Los Angeles taking two of three from the Mets at Dodger Stadium from May 5-7.