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Delgado finds power stroke, Maine rebounds as Mets beat Marlins

May 27, 2007 - 4:17 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Carlos Delgado found his home run stroke in a familiar venue and in the process helped John Maine get back on track.

Delgado homered twice and drove in a season-high five runs and Maine tied his career high with eight strikeouts as the New York Mets cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.

The 34-year-old Delgado, who hit 38 homers for the Marlins in 2005, hit a two-run homer in the third and added a three-run blast to dead center field off Florida starter Wes Obermueller.

Delgado had five hits - all singles - in his last 11 at-bats and had not homered in his last 47 plate appearances. He was moved to sixth in the order for the first time in his career on Wednesday, but he found a grove in this one batting from the five spot.

"I think that's the case for every power hitter," Delgado said. "To find that groove or whatever you want to call it. ... It's been like that throughout my whole career. I've been feeling a lot better at the plate (recently)."

"It was a matter of time," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Hopefully, he's feeling a little good. A nice rhythm tonight. A little later than we expected, but hopefully he's ready to roll and carry us for a little while."

It was the 41st career multi-home run game for Delgado, who had just one extra-base hit in his previous six games and was struggling through the worst start of his career with only three homers in his first 44 games.

With the Mets leading, 2-1, in the third, the lefthanded slugger victimized his former team by blasting a 3-1 pitch into the left-center field seats for a two-run homer. He followed that with a three-run shot to center in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. The blasts were his first since May 11 - a span of 15 games.

"When he starts committing himself to going the other way a little more," Randolph said. "There's a lot of room out there and he's taken advantage of that a little."

Delgado's outburst helped Maine earn his first decision in his last four starts. Maine (6-2) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings and never really ran into trouble as the Marlins failed to record an extra-base hit for just the second time in the last 49 games.

Maine was especially appreciative of the run support Delgado provided.

"It makes it easier to pitch," Maine said of Delgado's homers. "Two homers ... five RBI ... it helps."

Maine, who struck out five in a row from the third to the fourth, snapped a two-game losing streak and matched his career high of eight strikeouts, which he set on April 29 vs. Washington.

"I was happy because the last few starts haven't gone my way," Maine said. "You want to try and get back on track. I didn't change anything mechanically. Maybe the attitude a bit."

The 26-year-old righthander had stumbled a bit by going 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in his last three starts. He had started the season 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA.

"I wasn't concerned with a couple of rocky starts," Randolph said. "You're going to have that when you're in the rotation. ... You're going to have those ups and downs."

Maine is 2-0 this year in Miami with a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings and has held the Marlins hitters to a .146 (6-for-41) average. He has 15 strikeouts in the two games, and carried a no-hitter into the seventh against them on April 18.

"(John) Maine, I thought he was not as sharp as we've seen him before," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But he still kept them in the ballgame and they scored some runs (so) he was good enough to get us out tonight."

Ambiorix Burgos threw two scoreless innings and Aaron Sele worked around a leadoff single to close out the ninth for New York, which won has won six of its last seven series.

Endy Chavez had three hits for the Mets, who have won six straight in Florida for the first time in nine years. The last time New York accomplished the feat was September 20, 1997 to June 11, 1998.

Chavez was forced into duty when Carlos Gomez strained his hamstring in the second inning. Gomez was playing for Shawn Green, who sat out after it was revealed he has a small fracture in his right foot.

Unfortunately for Obermueller (1-3), he was on the wrong side of Delgado's big night. The righthander was making a spot start for Ricky Nolasco, who went on the disabled list for the second time this year with inflammation in his right elbow.

"Rough night tonight," Obermueller said. "Rough night tonight. I just couldn't find the strike zone. I battled myself tonight. You can't fall behind a good team like that (because) they'll make you pay."

Alfredo Amezega had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who lost their first series since getting swept by the Washington Nationals from May 11-13.

Miguel Olivo drove in the first run for Florida, which lost for just the fourth time in its last 11 games.

"His (Wes Obermueller) sharpness wasn't there, as we've seen before, and it's tough not to have your sharpness or command against a team like that," Gonzalez said.