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Mets' Maine looks to rebound vs. Marlins

Sep 23, 2007 - 2:08 PM NY Mets (86-68) at Florida (66-89) 1:05 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) - The New York Mets are trying to hold off the Philadelphia Phillies. A good start from John Maine would go along way in helping protect their slim lead.

Maine takes the mound as the Mets aim for their third straight win over the Florida Marlins in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday.

Oliver Perez gave the bullpen some much-needed rest Saturday, throwing eight solid innings, while Ramon Castro hit a three-run homer in a 7-2 win. Moises Alou extended his career best hitting streak to 26 games, which is the longest in the National League this season.

Perez's terrific outing came not a moment too soon. New York, which holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia (85-70) for first place in the NL East, saw its bullpen blow a four-run lead in each of the first two games of the series. To make matters worse, closer Billy Wagner is day-to-day with back spasms.

Now Maine (14-10, 4.04 ERA) will try and regain his early-season form.

The 26-year-old righthander has struggled recently, managing just two wins in his last nine starts. On Tuesday, he was rocked for eight runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 9-8 loss to the Washington Nationals - his worst start of the season.

Rookie Chris Seddon (0-1, 8.44) takes the mound for Florida, which has lost six of the last seven meetings here.

Seddon made his second career start on Tuesday, allowing four runs - three earned - and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.