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Martinez leaves game, but Mets stay hot

Jul 12, 2008 - 11:54 PM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Pedro Martinez lasted just four innings, but hits against the surging New York Mets remained few and far between.

Martinez and four relievers combined on a one-hitter and Jose Reyes homered as the Mets extended their winning streak to eight games with a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

It was the fifth straight game in which the Mets held an opponent to three hits or less, which breaks the modern major league record they shared with the 1974 Baltimore Orioles. The San Francisco Giants were swept of a three-game series earlier this week, collecting three hits in each contest, and the Rockies had just three in Friday's series opener.

"We've had excellent pitching the last six or seven games," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We've had good, solid defense behind them. All these things are going our way, and we're taking advantage of it."

Fernando Tatis and Brian Schneider delivered run-scoring hits for the Mets, who are on their longest winning streak since an eight-game run from June 7-15, 2006.

"We're showing what we're capable of doing," New York's Carlos Beltran said.

Martinez struggled to maintain any consistent velocity and was removed after throwing just 66 pitches due to what was first announced as right shoulder tightness. After the game, Martinez said he was favoring a slight groin injury that forced his shoulder to tighten up.

"I thought I could go two more innings, but Jerry said no," said Martinez, who allowed one hit, walked three and struck out three. "It was strictly a precaution (to leave the game). There is nothing wrong with me."

Carlos Muniz (1-1) pitched two innings and Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis each worked a frame before Billy Wagner tossed a perfect ninth to notch his 22nd save.

The Mets recorded the 32nd one-hitter in franchise history and first since John Maine and two relievers accomplished the feat on September 29 against the Florida Marlins. Third baseman David Wright preserved the one-hitter with a leaping catch of a line drive by Garrett Atkins to end the game.

It was the fifth shutout of the season for the Mets, with all needing a combined effort from their starter and bullpen.

Brad Hawpe's fourth-inning single was the only hit for Colorado, which has lost 17 of its last 19 games at Shea Stadium.

"We hit only a few balls hard, and those we did were right at people," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "As far as an extended inning, it didn't happen."

Ubaldo Jimenez (4-9), who defeated Martinez and the Mets with eight strong innings at Coors Field on June 21, lasted six frames Saturday, allowing three runs and seven hits. He walked four and struck out eight.

"I made a couple of bad pitches and I got myself in trouble," Jimenez said.

Beltran doubled in the fourth, stole third and scored on a single by Tatis for a 1-0 lead. Reyes led off the fifth inning with his 10th homer, a shot off the scoreboard in right field that gave the Mets a blast in seven straight games.

"He throws hard, and I went up there looking for a fastball," Reyes said. "I got it."

The Mets padded the advantage an inning later as Carlos Delgado singled and later scored on a bad-hop RBI double by Schneider.