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Big second inning helps Mets top Rockies

Jun 21, 2008 - 4:57 AM By Paul Willis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- John Maine cooled off the Colorado Rockies and Carlos Delgado continued to move up the all-time home run list as the New York Mets won for the second time in three tries under interim manager Jerry Manuel, 7-2, on Friday.

Maine (7-5) was sharp and efficient in the series opener at Coors Field, striking out six while scattering six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The righthander put up zeroes in each of his innings after surrendering a two-run home run to Jeff Baker in the first.

"It was a big win for us because some other teams in the division lost," said Maine, who was bothered by a blister on his right middle finger but doesn't expect to miss any time. "Now that everything is behind us (regarding the managerial change), we can just concentrate on baseball."

Maine helped spoil the return from the disabled list of Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in his first major league action since April 29.

Delgado quickly evened things after Baker's homer, blasting a two-run shot in the second to kick-start a five-run frame against Rockies starter Aaron Cook (10-4). It was career blast No. 442 for Delgado, vaulting him into a 34th-place tie with Dave Kingman on the all-time list.

"The five-run inning was huge because Mr. Cook had shut us down last time," Manuel said, referring to a 4-1 Rockies win on May 25 in which Cook pitched a complete game. "Actually, he dominated us last time."

The Mets, who also received a solo homer from Trot Nixon and a diving catch from the left fielder to end the fourth, evened their overall mark at 36-36 and won their second straight under Manuel, who was named to the interim post after the team fired Willie Randolph following Monday night's win at Anaheim.

"I like the way the team is responding," Manuel said. "We're swinging the bats and John Maine was excellent tonight. He had good life on that fastball and buckled down after that early homer."

Cook lasted seven innings but departed trailing, 6-2, snapping a four-game winning streak for Colorado, which entered having won 11 of 15. Cook, the Rockies' top All-Star candidate, allowed half of his 12 hits in the five-run second.

"I felt like I was just a click off. I'm not going to worry about it too much," Cook said. "I'll just put it behind me and worry about my next start. That's worked for me so far this season."

"It was probably a case of mechanically coming off pitches, coming out of his windup a little too quick," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Cook. "Instead of getting sink, he was getting run. He got them hitting the wrong side of the ball."

Carlos Beltran collected singles in three of his five at-bats and has reached base in 34 of the Mets' 36 wins.

For Baker, the opposite-field shot over the scoreboard in right field marked the fourth consecutive game with a homer for the Rockies' utilityman. He entered that stretch with only one home run on the season.

Colorado, though, was most encouraged with the return of Tulowitzki as it attempts to escape the NL West cellar.

"We're closer to having a full squad back," Hurdle said. "It's going to be important. We need to have our best 25 men in play to make a push."