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Maine aims for turnaround against lowly Pirates

Aug 15, 2007 - 1:46 PM NY Mets (66-52) at Pittsburgh (49-68) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- John Maine looks to rebound from a pair of poor performances when the New York Mets visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Maine (12-7, 3.53 ERA), who has endured his worst stretch of the season, will try and lead the Mets to their third straight win.

New York, which has the most road wins in the majors at 33, took Tuesday's series opener, 5-4, thanks to Moises Alou's go-ahead two-run single in the eighth.

Alou has been on a tear over the last six games, hitting .346 (9-for-26) with three homers and eight RBI for New York, which leads Philadelphia (63-55) by three games and Atlanta (63-56) by 3 1/2 games in the National League East.

The Mets will try to provide some more run support for Maine, who has allowed 12 runs and 11 hits in his last eight frames. On Thursday, the righthander was rocked for six runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves in a 7-6 loss.

Matt Morris (7-7, 4.53) takes the hill for Pittsburgh, which owns the worst record in the National League. In two starts since being dealt to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, Morris has a 6.57 ERA without a decision.

Morris, who is winless in his last 10 starts, allowed five runs in six innings against his former team, the San Francisco Giants, on Friday.