NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: C Burke hit for L Scott. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6 HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Burke (.217, 1 HR, 8 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Ausmus hit for E Munson. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6 HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B Ausmus (.260, 2 HR, 18 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Bruntlett hit for D Borkowski. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 6 HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E Bruntlett (.303, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 13 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: NYM - JOHN MAINE, JOE SMITH (8TH), PEDRO FELICIANO (8TH), BILLY WAGNER (9TH) AND RAMON CASTRO HOU - JASON JENNINGS, MATT ALBERS (7TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND ERIC MUNSON HOME RUNS: NYM - CARLOS BELTRAN (15) OFF DAVE BORKOWSKI IN THE 9TH, 0 ON HOU - NONE</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 13 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: NYM - JOHN MAINE, JOE SMITH (8TH), PEDRO FELICIANO (8TH), BILLY WAGNER (9TH) AND RAMON CASTRO HOU - JASON JENNINGS, MATT ALBERS (7TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND ERIC MUNSON WP - JOHN MAINE (10-4) LP - JASON JENNINGS (1-4) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: NYM - CARLOS BELTRAN (15) OFF DAVE BORKOWSKI IN THE 9TH, 0 ON HOU - NONE TIME: 2:47 ATT: 35,430 PROBABLES: NYM - MIKE PELFREY (0-6, 6.11) HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (5-7, 4.23)</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NY METS (6) VS HOUSTON (2) - FINAL NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .310 R Ledee lf 4 1 2 2 1 1 0 .233 C Beltran cf 5 1 1 1 0 3 5 .267 D Wright 3b 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 .291 C Delgado 1b 4 1 4 1 1 0 0 .242 J Valentin 2b 4 1 0 0 1 1 4 .250 S Green rf 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 .278 R Castro c 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .297 J Maine p 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .097 J Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 P Feliciano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Wagner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 37 6 13 6 4 8 18 BATTING: 2B - S Green (18, J Jennings); C Delgado (21, J Jennings); R Castro (4, J Jennings). 3B - J Reyes (9, J Jennings). HR - C Beltran (15, 9th inning off D Borkowski 0 on, 1 Out). S - J Maine. RBI - R Ledee 2 (6), C Delgado (47), R Castro 2 (17), C Beltran (52). 2-out RBI - C Delgado, R Castro 2, R Ledee. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Beltran 3, J Maine 1. GIDP - J Valentin. Team LOB - 9. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (43, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson), R Ledee (1, 2nd base off J Jennings/E Munson). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 5 1 2 0 0 2 2 .260 H Pence cf 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .345 L Berkman 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .263 C Lee lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .295 M Loretta ss 4 0 2 1 0 0 3 .329 M Lamb 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .299 b-M Ensberg ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207 L Scott rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .231 c-C Burke ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .216 E Munson c 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .235 d-B Ausmus ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 J Jennings p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .091 M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 a-O Palmeiro ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 e-E Bruntlett ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .303 Totals 34 2 7 2 3 12 19 a-flied out to left for M Albers in the 7th; b-struck out looking for M Lamb in the 8th; c-struck out swinging for L Scott in the 9th; d-grounded to second for E Munson in the 9th; e-walked for D Borkowski in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (24, J Maine); C Lee (23, J Maine). RBI - C Lee (72), M Loretta (29). 2-out RBI - C Lee, M Loretta. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1, C Biggio 1. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: DP: 2 (C Biggio-M Loretta-L Berkman, L Berkman-M Loretta). ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 202 001 001 -- 6 HOUSTON - 000 000 020 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era J Maine (W, 10-4) 7 2/3 6 2 2 2 9 0 2.71 J Smith 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.94 P Feliciano (H, 8) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.53 B Wagner 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1.69 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Jennings (L, 1-4) 6 9 5 5 3 4 0 4.07 M Albers 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 6.00 D Borkowski 2 4 1 1 0 3 1 4.62 J Smith pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Pitches-strikes: J Maine 121-79; J Smith 4-3; P Feliciano 5-3; B Wagner 18-11; J Jennings 99-64; M Albers 11-5; D Borkowski 36-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J Maine 4-10; J Smith 0-0; P Feliciano 0-0; B Wagner 1-0; J Jennings 10-4; M Albers 2-0; D Borkowski 1-1. Batters faced: J Maine 31; J Smith 1; P Feliciano 1; B Wagner 4; J Jennings 30; M Albers 3; D Borkowski 9. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. T--2:47. Att--35,430. Weather: INDOORS</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NY METS (6) AT HOUSTON (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NY METS 1ST: J Reyes tripled to deep center. R Ledee reached on infield single to first, J Reyes scored. C Beltran struck out swinging. D Wright grounded out to first, R Ledee to second. C Delgado singled to right, R Ledee scored. J Valentin grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 3RD: D Wright grounded out to shortstop. C Delgado doubled to deep center. J Valentin walked. S Green flied out to left. R Castro doubled to left, C Delgado and J Valentin scored. J Maine grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 6TH: R Castro singled to left. J Maine sacrificed to catcher, R Castro to second. J Reyes popped out to shortstop. R Ledee singled to right, R Castro scored. R Ledee stole second. C Beltran grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 8TH: C Biggio hit a ground rule double to deep right. H Pence grounded out to shortstop. L Berkman flied out to left. C Lee doubled to left, C Biggio scored. J Smith relieved J Maine. M Loretta singled to right, C Lee scored. P Feliciano relieved J Smith. M Ensberg hit for M Lamb. M Ensberg struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 2. NY METS 9TH: M Ensberg at third base. R Ledee struck out swinging. C Beltran homered to left. D Wright struck out swinging. C Delgado singled to center. J Valentin struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 6, HOUSTON 2.</div>
NL: NY METS at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NY METS (6) AT HOUSTON (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ny Mets Starting Lineups -- J Reyes SS, R Ledee LF, C Beltran CF, D Wright 3B, C Delgado 1B, J Valentin 2B, S Green RF, R Castro C, J Maine RHP. Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, H Pence CF, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF, M Loretta SS, M Lamb 3B, L Scott RF, E Munson C, J Jennings RHP. Umpires -- Gary Cederstrom (HP), Brian Knight (1B), Tim Welke (2B), Lance Barksdale (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. NY METS 1ST: J Reyes tripled to deep center. R Ledee reached on infield single to first, J Reyes scored. C Beltran struck out swinging. D Wright grounded out to first, R Ledee to second. C Delgado singled to right, R Ledee scored. J Valentin grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio struck out swinging. H Pence struck out swinging. L Berkman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 2ND: S Green doubled to deep right. R Castro grounded out to shortstop, S Green to third. J Maine struck out swinging. J Reyes walked. J Reyes stole second. R Ledee walked. C Beltran struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee popped out to shortstop. M Loretta singled to center. M Lamb struck out swinging. L Scott struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 2, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 3RD: D Wright grounded out to shortstop. C Delgado doubled to deep center. J Valentin walked. S Green flied out to left. R Castro doubled to left, C Delgado and J Valentin scored. J Maine grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 3RD: E Munson walked. J Jennings struck out looking. C Biggio popped out to shortstop. H Pence struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 4TH: J Reyes grounded out to second. R Ledee grounded out to third. C Beltran struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 4TH: L Berkman lined out to second. C Lee reached on infield single to third. M Loretta flied out to left. M Lamb flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 5TH: D Wright flied out to right. C Delgado singled to center. J Valentin flied out to right. S Green grounded into fielder's choice to second, C Delgado out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 5TH: L Scott grounded out to second. E Munson grounded out to first. J Jennings grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 4, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 6TH: R Castro singled to left. J Maine sacrificed to catcher, R Castro to second. J Reyes popped out to shortstop. R Ledee singled to right, R Castro scored. R Ledee stole second. C Beltran grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 6TH: C Biggio singled to center. H Pence singled to left, C Biggio to second. L Berkman struck out swinging. C Lee struck out swinging. M Loretta popped out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 7TH: M Albers relieved J Jennings. D Wright struck out swinging. C Delgado walked. J Valentin grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, C Delgado out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 7TH: M Lamb flied out to left. L Scott walked. E Munson popped out to third. O Palmeiro hit for M Albers. O Palmeiro flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. NY METS 8TH: D Borkowski relieved M Albers. S Green singled to center. R Castro singled to left, S Green to second. J Maine bunt popped into double play, first to shortstop, S Green doubled off second. J Reyes grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 8TH: C Biggio hit a ground rule double to deep right. H Pence grounded out to shortstop. L Berkman flied out to left. C Lee doubled to left, C Biggio scored. J Smith relieved J Maine. M Loretta singled to right, C Lee scored. P Feliciano relieved J Smith. M Ensberg hit for M Lamb. M Ensberg struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 5, HOUSTON 2. NY METS 9TH: M Ensberg at third base. R Ledee struck out swinging. C Beltran homered to left. D Wright struck out swinging. C Delgado singled to center. J Valentin struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 6, HOUSTON 2. HOUSTON 9TH: B Wagner relieved P Feliciano. C Burke hit for L Scott. C Burke struck out swinging. B Ausmus hit for E Munson. B Ausmus grounded out to second. E Bruntlett hit for D Borkowski. E Bruntlett walked. E Bruntlett to second on fielder's indifference. C Biggio struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY METS 6, HOUSTON 2.</div>
Maine's brilliant performance helps Mets end skid, beat Astros <h3>NY METS 6, HOUSTON 2</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- New York Mets manager Willie Randolph foundan easy solution to his team's four-game losing streak. Sendout John Maine to pitch and Carlos Delgado to hit against theHouston Astros. Maine (10-4) shut out Houston for 7 2/3 innings, setting acareer high with nine strikeouts, and Delgado rapped out fourhits as the Mets defeated the Astros, 6-2 on Thursday. Carlos Beltran also added a solo homer for New York, which hadlost the final game of a four-game series in Philadelphia anddropped three straight in Colorado before beginning the seriesin Houston. Maine, who allowed six hits, became the fifth pitcher in theNational League to 10 wins. The righthander had won both his previous starts again Houston,including a complete-game four-hitter last year at Shea Stadium.Maine entered Thursday's game with a 1.17 ERA in 15 1/3innings vs. Houston. Delgado, who enjoyed similar success vs. the Astros, was 4-for-4vs. Houston, reaching base five times. The veteran fistbaseman entered with a .425 average with six homers vs. theAstros. Jose Reyes started the Mets rolling with a triple off JasonJennings (1-4) on the second pitch of the game. The All-Starshortstop then scored on Ricky Ledee's slow roller to first thatbounced off the bag for a hit. Ledee advanced on a groundoutand scored on Delgado's single for a 2-0 lead. Mets reserve catcher Ramon Castro, filling in for the suspendedPaul Lo Duca, doubled in two more runs in the third to increasethe lead to four. He then singled and scored in the sixth on arun-scoring single by Ledee to make it 5-0. The Astros tried to get something going in the sixth when CraigBiggio and rookie Hunter Pence opened the inning with singles.But Maine struck out Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee and retiredMark Loretta on a pop-up to escape unscathed. Houston finally scored in the eighth on Biggio's double andLee's two-out double. Loretta drove in Lee with a bloop singleoff reliever Joe Smith to make it 5-2. Beltran belted his 15th homer off reliever Dave Borkowski in theninth to finish the scoring. Biggio had two hits to pass Wade Boggs for 24th on the all-timehit list with 3,011 for Houston, which had won five of seven onits homestand before Thursday's loss.
Maine's brilliant performance helps Mets end skid, beat Astros <h3>NY METS 6, HOUSTON 2</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- New York Mets manager Willie Randolph foundan easy solution to his team's four-game losing streak: Send outJohn Maine to pitch and Carlos Delgado to hit against theHouston Astros. Maine (10-4) shut out Houston for 7 2/3 innings, setting acareer high with nine strikeouts, and Delgado rapped out fourhits as the Mets defeated the Astros, 6-2 on Thursday. Carlos Beltran also added a solo homer for New York, which hadlost the final game of a four-game series in Philadelphia anddropped three straight in Colorado before beginning the seriesagainst the Astros. "We really needed it," Delgado said of Maine's performance. "Weneeded a guy to stop the bleeding. He came out today and setthe tone. He was aggressive, throwing strikes." The Mets had been outscored by 24 runs during the four-gameslide, giving up 11 runs Tuesday at Colorado and 17 Wednesday. "We came in (Wednesday) night through a thunderstorm, so maybeit washed the gloom away," Randolph said. Maine, who allowed six hits, became the fifth pitcher in theNational League to 10 wins. He turned into the stopper Thursday by halting the losingstreak. "I really don't think about it like that," Maine said. "I justhave to go out there and pitch. It's unfortunate what happenedin Colorado. We've got to win one eventually, so why nottonight. The team always seems to score four or five runs (forme). The first time through the lineup I just wanted to show Iwas throwing strikes, then try to get them to chase some thingsafter that." Maine isn't known as a strikeout pitcher, but he was dealing vs.the Astros. "You can tell early when he's got great stuff," Randolph said."He hit his spots, moved the ball up and down, in and out. Whenhe throws the ball like he did today, you're going to get somestrikeouts." "Everything was working for him," catcher Ramon Castro said."He was throwing the slider backdoor inside. When he threw hisfastball, they had no chance." The righthander had won both his previous starts again Houston,including a complete-game four-hitter last year at Shea Stadium.Maine entered Thursday's game with a 1.17 ERA in 15 1/3 inningsvs. Houston. "We faced a couple of Cy Young Award-type candidates the lasttwo days," said Astros shortstop Mark Loretta of Maine andPhiladelphia's Cole Hamels. "They didn't make a lot ofmistakes." Delgado, who enjoyed similar success vs. the Astros, was 4-for-4vs. Houston, reaching base five times. The veteran firstbaseman entered with a .425 average with six homers againstHouston. "I really don't have an explanation for that," Delgado said."I'm seeing the ball better (now). The pitch recognition is thebiggest difference. I wasn't getting ready soon enough, notreading the balls in the strike zone." Jose Reyes started the Mets rolling with a triple off JasonJennings (1-4) on the second pitch of the game. The All-Starshortstop then scored on Ricky Ledee's slow roller to first thatbounced off the bag for a hit. Ledee advanced on a groundoutand scored on Delgado's single for a 2-0 lead. "The last week we didn't get too many breaks," said Randolph ofLedee's fluke single. "Ricky doesn't get to play too much andhe needed that and we needed it." "That's what I'm here for, to fill in when anybody goes down orneeds a rest," said Ledee, who will probably get more time withCarlos Gomez out six to eight weeks with a broken hand hesuffered Wednesday. "We need to get on base. We've got a goodlineup. We're going to drive in some runs." Mets reserve catcher Ramon Castro, filling in for the suspendedPaul Lo Duca, doubled in two more runs in the third to increasethe lead to four. He then singled and scored in the sixth on arun-scoring single by Ledee to make it 5-0. "He didn't make good pitches," Astros manager Phil Garner saidof Jennings. "We had a real hard time with Delgado. It didn'tseem to matter what he threw him. I think the one that hurt usmost was the one up to Castro (for the double)." "I couldn't get into a rhythm," Jennings said. "They jumped onme pretty early." The Astros tried to get something going in the sixth when CraigBiggio and rookie Hunter Pence opened the inning with singles.But Maine struck out Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee and retiredLoretta on a pop-up to escape unscathed. Houston finally scored in the eighth on Biggio's double andLee's two-out double. Loretta drove in Lee with a bloop singleoff reliever Joe Smith to make it 5-2. Beltran belted his 15th homer off reliever Dave Borkowski in theninth to finish the scoring. Biggio had two hits to pass Wade Boggs for 24th on the all-timehit list with 3,011 for Houston, which had won five of seven onits homestand before Thursday's loss. Mets closer Billy Wagner struck out Biggio, his former teammate,to end the game. "I think he's hit for the cycle against me," Wagner said ofBiggio. "It's not fun pitching against those guys (Astros).You have a relationship with them. When you have to come backto a place you never should have left, it's tough."
