NL: NY METS (46-37) at HOUSTON (37-48) <h3>Maine looks to get Mets back on track</h3> <div class="pre">Ny Mets (46-37) at Houston (37-48) 8:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) -- John Maine looks to be the calming presencein what has been a rocky time for New York Mets pitchers. Maine (9-4, 2.74 ERA) takes the hill in the opener of afour-game series with the Houston Astros on Thursday. Mets pitchers were lit up in Colorado to the tune of 34 runs and47 hits during a three-game sweep. Now, Maine looks to stop New York's four-game skid as well asnotch his fourth straight victory. In his last time out thesecond-year starter allowed two runs - one earned - and fourhits in eight innings against Philadelphia on Friday. The 26-year-old has allowed two runs or less in seven of hislast eight starts yet is not headed to the All-Star game despitehis ERA being fourth best in the NL. Maine will be opposed by Jason Jennings (1-3, 3.69) who has losttwo straight starts. On Saturday Jennings allowed three runsand five hits in seven innings against Colorado. The Mets, who won eight of their last nine in June, will belooking to avoid losing five straight to start a month for thefirst time since April 2005.
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS NY METS HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Jose Reyes SS .311 4 34 Craig Biggio 2B .258 5 28 Ricky Ledee LF .192 1 4 Hunter Pence CF .346 11 40 Carlos Beltran CF .268 14 51 Lance Berkman 1B .266 14 54 David Wright 3B .296 15 49 Carlos Lee LF .293 16 71 Carlos Delgado 1B .232 13 46 Mark Loretta SS .326 2 28 Jose Valentin 2B .257 3 17 Mike Lamb 3B .305 7 25 Shawn Green RF .275 7 27 Luke Scott RF .233 10 38 Ramon Castro C .271 5 15 Eric Munson C .245 2 7 John Maine RHP .107 0 1 Jason Jennings RHP .111 0 0 (9-4, 2.74) (1-3, 3.69)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: NYM - JOHN MAINE (9-4, 2.74) HOU - JASON JENNINGS (1-3, 3.69) UMPIRES: HP - GARY CEDERSTROM 1B - BRIAN KNIGHT 2B - TIM WELKE 3B - LANCE BARKSDALE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: NYM - JOHN MAINE AND RAMON CASTRO HOU - JASON JENNINGS AND ERIC MUNSON DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.311, 4 HR, 34 RBI) R LEDEE (.192, 1 HR, 4 RBI) C BELTRAN (.268, 14 HR, 51 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY RICKY LEDEE SCORED JOSE REYES. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R LEDEE ON FIRST, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 1 HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR NY METS: C BELTRAN (.268, 14 HR, 51 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY CARLOS DELGADO SCORED RICKY LEDEE. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C DELGADO ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 2 HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR NY METS: J VALENTIN (.257, 3 HR, 17 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 2 3 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.258, 5 HR, 28 RBI) H PENCE (.346, 11 HR, 40 RBI) L BERKMAN (.266, 14 HR, 54 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Delgado 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .235 J Valentin 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 R Castro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Maine p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .107 Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 2 BATTING: 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47). 2-out RBI - C Delgado. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346 L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 2 -- 2 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.74 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.95 Pitches-strikes: J Jennings 20-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J Jennings 2-0. Batters faced: J Jennings 6. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 2 3 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR NY METS: S GREEN (.275, 7 HR, 27 RBI) R CASTRO (.271, 5 HR, 15 RBI) J MAINE (.107, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .267 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Delgado 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .235 J Valentin 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 R Castro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Maine p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .107 Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 2 BATTING: 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47). 2-out RBI - C Delgado. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .345 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 2 -- 2 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.71 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.95 Pitches-strikes: J Maine 15-10; J Jennings 20-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 0-0; J Jennings 2-0. Batters faced: J Maine 3; J Jennings 6. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 4 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.293, 16 HR, 71 RBI) M LORETTA (.326, 2 HR, 28 RBI) M LAMB (.305, 7 HR, 25 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .266 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Delgado 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .235 J Valentin 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278 R Castro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 J Maine p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .103 Totals 10 2 4 2 2 3 6 BATTING: 2B - S Green (18, J Jennings). 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47). 2-out RBI - C Delgado. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Beltran 2. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (43, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .345 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 20 -- 2 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.71 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 2 4 2 2 2 3 0 3.88 Pitches-strikes: J Maine 15-10; J Jennings 45-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 0-0; J Jennings 3-0. Batters faced: J Maine 3; J Jennings 12. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 4 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR NY METS: D WRIGHT (.295, 0-FOR-1) C DELGADO (.235, 1-FOR-1, RBI) J VALENTIN (.255, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (2) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .266 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 C Delgado 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .235 J Valentin 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278 R Castro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 J Maine p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .103 Totals 10 2 4 2 2 3 6 BATTING: 2B - S Green (18, J Jennings). 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47). 2-out RBI - C Delgado. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Beltran 2. Team LOB - 4. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (43, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .345 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329 M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 5 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 20 -- 2 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 2.68 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 2 4 2 2 2 3 0 3.88 Pitches-strikes: J Maine 32-21; J Jennings 45-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 0-1; J Jennings 3-0. Batters faced: J Maine 7; J Jennings 12. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY RAMON CASTRO SCORED CARLOS DELGADO AND JOSE VALENTIN. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R CASTRO ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 4 HOUSTON 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR NY METS: J MAINE (.103, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 4 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E MUNSON (.245, 2 HR, 7 RBI) J JENNINGS (.111, 0 HR, 0 RBI) C BIGGIO (.257, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .266 D Wright 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Delgado 1b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .237 J Valentin 2b 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .255 S Green rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .277 R Castro c 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .278 J Maine p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .100 Totals 15 4 6 4 3 3 9 BATTING: 2B - S Green (18, J Jennings); C Delgado (21, J Jennings); R Castro (4, J Jennings). 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47), R Castro 2 (17). 2-out RBI - C Delgado, R Castro 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Beltran 2, J Maine 1. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (43, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .345 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329 M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 5 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 202 -- 4 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 2.68 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 3 6 4 4 3 3 0 4.13 Pitches-strikes: J Maine 32-21; J Jennings 66-40. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 0-1; J Jennings 5-1. Batters faced: J Maine 7; J Jennings 18. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 4 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - JOHN MAINE HOU - JASON JENNINGS DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.313, 1-FOR-1, BB) R LEDEE (.222, 1-FOR-1, BB, RBI) C BELTRAN (.266, 0-FOR-2)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (4) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .313 R Ledee lf 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .222 C Beltran cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .266 D Wright 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 C Delgado 1b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .237 J Valentin 2b 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .255 S Green rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .277 R Castro c 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .278 J Maine p 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .100 Totals 15 4 6 4 3 3 9 BATTING: 2B - S Green (18, J Jennings); C Delgado (21, J Jennings); R Castro (4, J Jennings). 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). RBI - R Ledee (5), C Delgado (47), R Castro 2 (17). 2-out RBI - C Delgado, R Castro 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Beltran 2, J Maine 1. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (43, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .256 H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .344 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .266 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329 M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .245 J Jennings p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .100 Totals 10 0 1 0 1 7 5 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 202 -- 4 HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine 3 1 0 0 1 7 0 2.66 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings 3 6 4 4 3 3 0 4.13 Pitches-strikes: J Maine 49-32; J Jennings 66-40. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 0-2; J Jennings 5-1. Batters faced: J Maine 11; J Jennings 18. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
