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Maine looks to help Mets takes series from Nationals

Apr 29, 2007 - 3:42 PM NY Mets (14-8) at Washington (8-15) 1:35 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The New York Mets snapped out of their offensive doldrums, John Maine hopes they can give him enough runs to maintain his perfect record.

Carlos Beltran and David Wright each had two RBI in a four-run 12th inning in Saturday nights 6-2 win. Prior to that offensive outburst the Mets had not had a hit with runners in scoring position in the last 17 2/3 innings.

Maine (3-0, 1.71 ERA) has been stellar this far allowing just five runs in his first 26 1/3 innings, and has pitched at least seven innings in each of his four starts.

In addition to that, the Mets have won 14 of the righthanders last 16 starts dating to last postseason. In his last start Maine allowed just one runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings with five strikeouts in a 6-1 win over Colorado on Monday.

New York will need him to come through with a long outing after exhausting their bullpen in Saturday's win. They got four scoreless innings from four relievers in the 12 inning affair.

The same goes for Washington, which used six relievers and saw closer Chad Cordero blow his first career save against the Mets. He had not allowed an earned run in 25 2/3 innings before Julio Franco's RBI single that tied the game at 2-2 in the ninth.

Jason Bergmann (0-1, 3.27) will be responsible for getting his bullpen some rest. The righthander is still looking for his first win. He allowed just two runs - one earned - and three hits in six innings against the Phillies on Tuesday but was let down by his bullpen in a 6-3 loss.