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Maine looks to start 2008 on high note vs. Braves

Apr 4, 2008 - 12:57 PM NY Mets (2-1) at Atlanta (1-3) 7:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - John Maine knows what the absence of Pedro Martinez means for him and the rest of the New York Mets' pitching staff.

Maine makes his first start of the season as the Mets aim for a third straight win when they visit the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

The 26-year-old Maine earned spot in the Mets' rotation last season and was a pleasant surprise, winning 15 games and posting a 3.91 ERA.

It was the first full season as a starter for Maine, who was considered a throw-in player in the deal that sent righthander Kris Benson to Baltimore in 2006.

He started and won Game Six of the National League Championship Series that season.

With that valuable experience in hand, the young righthander should be well prepared for the pressure that will be thrust upon him now that Martinez is out for at least the next month with a strained left hamstring.

"(It's) an unfortunate loss," Maine said. "Everyone knows what Pedro can do. We've been doing this the last couple of years, and that means me, Oliver (Perez) and (Mike) Pelfrey have to step up a little more."

The Mets were not lacking for offense as every starter had a hit. Ryan Church homered and drove in three runs, while David Wright hit a three-run blast and Carlos Beltran doubled three times.

Tim Hudson (0-0, 2.57 ERA) will make his second start of the season for the Braves. Hudson allowed two runs and three hits with three strikeouts in seven innings of a 3-2 loss to Washington on Sunday.

Atlanta had a setback in more ways than one on Thursday. Lefthander Mike Hampton, who has not pitched in more than two years, was scratched from his start and placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained pectoral muscle.

To add insult to injury, Xavier Nady singled home the game-winning run in the 10th inning as the Braves fell, 4-3, to the Pittsburgh Pirates.