Nationals-Mets Preview

5/13/2008 12:31 AM

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

The New York Mets picked up an ideal stopper when they traded for ace Johan Santana in the offseason, but nobody has played that role for them better than John Maine.

Maine has won three straight starts, all following Mets losses, and will look to extend that streak Tuesday night as New York continues its four-game series with the Washington Nationals.

New York (19-17) acquired Santana from Minnesota in exchange for four players in February, giving it the type of pitcher it sorely lacked when the team suffered a historic collapse at the end of last season. But Maine (4-2, 3.00 ERA), who is developing into a excellent pitcher in his own right, has taken the lead in helping the Mets bounce back from defeats.

During has three-start win streak, Maine has posted a 2.33 ERA while striking out 17 in 19 1-3 innings.

The right-hander is coming off his best start of the season, allowing one run and four hits in 8 1-3 innings as New York beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-1 on Wednesday. He became the first Mets starter to pitch more than seven innings this season and the first since May 13, 2007 to go beyond eight.

Maine is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts at Shea Stadium. He earned a win at home against the Nationals on April 16, giving up two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings as the Mets won 5-2.

Maine is 4-2 with a 4.84 ERA in eight career starts against Washington.

New York could use another boost from Maine after fifth starter Nelson Figueroa gave up six runs - four earned - in a 10-4 loss to Washington (16-23) in the series opener.

Before the game, Mets manager Willie Randolph praised his team for looking "hitterish" in an 8-3 win over Cincinnati on Monday. But they left 11 runners on base versus the Nationals.

"(We) just have to do a better job capitalizing on the hits," Randolph said.

Now, New York will face impressive Washington rookie John Lannan (3-3, 3.40), who has given up two runs or less in five of his seven starts.

Lannan pitched well against the Mets on April 17, surrendering one run and three hits while striking out a career-high 11 in six innings as the Nationals lost 3-2 in 14 innings. He struggled in his only other appearance against New York, giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings in a 7-4 Washington loss on Aug. 18.

The left-hander earned a win in his last start, allowing one run and seven hits in six innings as Washington won 8-3 at Houston on Thursday. Lannan is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in four road starts.

Lannan, though, hasn't gotten much support from the Nationals' lineup, getting two runs or less to work with in his first six starts.

On Monday, though, Washington went 5-for-18 with runners in scoring position en route to reaching double digits in runs for the third time this season. The Nationals entered the game hitting a major league-worst .237 with men on base.

"We finally hit the ball well," Washington hitting coach Lenny Harris told the team's official Web site. "We haven't been consistent yet where we can keep battling every night."