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Maine, Reyes lead Mets to 12th straight win in Arizona

May 5, 2007 - 6:21 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- A pair of New York Mets took home hardware earlier in the week. On Friday they helped New York continue its success in the desert.

John Maine pitched six strong innings and Jose Reyes had three hits as the Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3, in the middle game of a three-game series.

Maine and Reyes on Wednesday were named National League Pitcher and Player of the Month, respectively, and they combined to help New York beat Arizona for the 12th straight time at Chase Field. The Mets have outscored the Diamondbacks, 98-27, during the stretch.

Maine (5-0) outpitched future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, allowing just one run and six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings. He allowed just three runners to reach second base.

While Maine did not have his best stuff, he made do with what he had and did enough for the win.

"I got through it. I was able to throw my fastball where I wanted to when I needed it and it got me out of jams," Maine said. "I need to work on some things and hopefully my next start won't be like that. I tried to keep it down and was able to do that most of the time. I am pleased that we got the win but I still feel that there is work to be done."

Arizona manager Bob Melvin was disappointed with his club's inability to get extra-base hits. Overall Arizona has lost four in a row after winning a season-high six straight.

"Maine is real sneaky. He throws a lot of fastballs and you see a lot of late swings," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "We had a better second half then first but we are not maximizing our hits. Hudson got a home run and I think there was one double for us and the rest were singles. They were more optimistic again."

Reyes led off the game with a single, stole second after a flyout by Damion Easley and scored on a single by Carlos Beltran for an early lead.

Forty eight-year-old Julio Franco added to the lead with his first homer of the season - a two-run shot in the second - and also stole his first base of the season in the ninth. Franco started at first in place of Carlos Delgado, who got the day off, and is still struggling, hitting .196 (21-for-107).

"I am not going to get a lot of playing time so I have to be ready," Franco said. "Physically and mentally I have to be ready and focused. It still is not easy hitting a home run off Randy Johnson. He can still pitch. I feel if I get one it is lucky.

The Mets extended the lead to 4-1 lead when Paul Lo Duca homered in the fourth in support of Maine, who is one win shy of his career-high of six wins set last season.

"He (Maine) didn't have his good stuff tonight and that shows you how much he has matured," LoDuca said.

April's NL Player of the Month, Reyes stole his major-league leading 18th base, added an RBI single in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-1.

New York had little trouble scoring on Johnson (0-2), who was making just his third start since offseason back surgery. The 6-10 lefthander allowed five runs and nine hits in seven innings in his second straight loss.

"It is getting better," Johnson said. "I know the results don't reflect that but to be able go seven innings and overall I felt my stuff got better, my velocity got better but my location is still off."

The Diamondbacks pulled within 5-3 on a controversial home run by Orlando Hudson in the eighth.

Hudson hit a shot to left and Mets left fielder Endy Chavez made a leaping attempt and apparently brought the ball back before it hit the yellow line. However, a fan reached out and the ball hit his popcorn, therefore it was ruled as a two-run homer for Hudson.

"I don't think they know what it was because it wasn't even close," New York manager Willie Randolph said. "Endy said he had the ball in his glove but when he hit the wall a fan hit it but it was obviously not a home run but it didn't hurt us."

It was the fourth homer of the season for Hudson, who had two hits and has reached safely in every game this season.

The home run was served up by Ambiorix Burgos, who relieved Maine and allowed two runs run and three hits in two innings.

Billy Wagner walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, got one out and then got Scott Hairston to hit into a game-ending double play for his sixth save.