Mets-Marlins: Maine Struggles, Mets Lose Another Road Series

MIAMI—To start the game, John Maine did something that maybe Oliver Perez had never done. He walked the first three batters of the game on 12 pitches. It was so inexplicable and mind boggling that I have no clue how to break it down.

So with the bases loaded and nobody out, after getting Jorge Cantu to line out to shortstop, Maine walked Dan Uggla to force in a run. He became the first Mets' starter to walk four batters in an opening inning since Tom Glavine did so on June 15, 2003. After striking out Cody Ross, he allowed a two-run single to Cameron Maybin, extending the lead to 3-0.

While Maine settled down for the next three innings, the Mets were fighting back. They got a run in the second on a David Wright leadoff home run. A batter later, Ike Davis doubled but he was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on a Rod Barajas base hit.

The Mets would score two in the third to tie the game at 3-3. Jason Bay recorded an RBI single and Wright followed up with a sacrifice fly.

After seemingly settling into a groove, Maine gave up another three in the fifth. Hanley Ramirez led off with a double and went to third on a throwing error by Jeff Francoeur who was attempting to throw Ramirez out at second. Cantu followed up with an RBI double. Later on Ross singled in a run and Maybin hit a sacrifice fly to give the Marlins a 6-3 lead.

The Mets would score a run on a Luis Castillo triple in the seventh, as they still trailed 7-4. Down three in the ninth against Marlins closer Leo Nunez, Rod Barajas led off with a hit but stupidly got thrown out at second trying to stretch a hit into a double. That would somewhat hurt as with two outs, Jose Reyes doubled and Luis Castillo singled him in. Angel Pagan, batting third with Reyes hitting leadoff, ended the game with a weak groundout to first.

The Mets took a 7-5 loss and lost their fifth road series of the season. Coming off of an Oliver Perez outing that sent him to the bullpen, the last thing the Mets needed was an awful outing out of John Maine.

They lost their fourth-in-a-row to drop under .500 at 18-19. With the Phillies beating the Brewers, the Mets now trail in the NL East by five whole games.

Series probable pitchers:
May 16
New York: Jon Niese (2010: 1-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Florida: Ricky Nolasco (2010: 3-2, 3.66 ERA)

Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 16 @ Florida Marlins
May 17-18 @ Atlanta Braves

Florida Marlins:
May 16 vs. New York Mets
May 17-18 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks