John Maine

The New York Mets got everything they needed last night: clutch starting pitching, solid relief work, electricity at the top of their batting order, and maniacal support from the home crowd. All this led to what the Mets needed most, a season-saving victory in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. With rookie John Maine delivering 5 1/3 shutout innings and Jose Reyes clouting a tone-setting, leadoff homer in the first, the Mets posted a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first Game 6 of a postseason series played at Shea Stadium since the night the ball rolled through Bill Buckner's legs in the 1986 World Series.

  Tonight at 7:05 New York RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 6.32 ERA) vs. RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 7.18).   Tomorrow at 3:40 p.m. New York LHP Oliver Perez (1-2, 9.31) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (3-1, 5.09).   Sunday at 1:35 p.m. New York RHP John Maine (1-2, 5.40) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (0-2, 8.41).

Don't reserve a parking spot for righthander John Maine in the players' lot at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., just yet. Agent Rex Gary acknowledged he's spoken to the Phillies about the 29-year-old who became a free agent when the Mets failed to offer him arbitration, but indicated that at least 15 teams have expressed some degree of interest and downplayed the notion that the defending National League East champions have separated themselves...

Carlos Delgado dived to snatch a sharp grounder to first base, slapped the bag with his bare hand and immediately looked home. He was hoping to help Mike Pelfrey one more time. "I was thinking I could cut off the run at home plate to protect that shutout," Delgado said. "Great performance by Pelfrey tonight. " The ninth-inning run scored, but it hardly mattered because Delgado was on his game, too. He hit a pair of three-run homers and helped turn three doubleplays as Pelfrey pitched his second straight complete game to give the New York Mets a 9-1 victory over visiting Houston last night.

U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Ted Poe are urging the Obama administration to demand that Citigroup drop its $400 million, 20-year naming rights deal for Citi Field, the New York Mets' new stadium scheduled to open in April, because of $45 billion the bank received in government aid. "At Citigroup, 50,000 people will lose their jobs. Yet in the boardroom of Citigroup, spending $400 million to put a name on stadium seems like a good idea," said Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat. Citigroup reached its agreement with the Mets 3 years ago. It is among several American banks that have received financial assistance from the federal government in recent months.

The all-star break apparently didn't agree with Cole Hamels. The lefthander, pitching on six days' rest instead of the customary four, surrendered a pair of solo home runs in yesterday's 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Florida Marlins. Both homers, a fourth-inning shot by Jeremy Hermida and a game-tying, eighth-inning blow by Cody Ross, came on poorly located fastballs. Hamels said precise location of his fastball was vital yesterday because the pitch lacked its usual zip. He blamed that on the extended rest he got over the all-star break.

Job description Speaking in front of the National Press Club in Washington, Stan Kasten, the president of baseball's worst team, the Nationals, said: "I'm currently in my 'village idiot' phase in Washington. Until we see the record on the field, it's easy to be critical, it's easy to be impatient. I totally understand it. " Kasten has a track record of success. He helped rebuild the Atlanta Braves 20 years ago, and he wants to follow the same blueprint for the Nats and structure the team around a young pitching staff.

Roy Oswalt moved into second place on the Astros' all-time strikeouts list in leading Houston to a 4-3 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates last night. Carlos Lee had a two-run double and Jeff Keppinger and Pedro Feliz drove in runs for the Astros, who have won six of eight after an 0-8 start. Oswalt (2-2) allowed four hits, struck out four and didn't give up a run until his last inning, the seventh. Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect eighth and Matt Lindstrom shut out Pittsburgh in the ninth to earn his fifth save in as many chances this season.

Don't reserve a parking spot for righthander John Maine in the players' lot at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., just yet. Agent Rex Gary acknowledged he's spoken to the Phillies about the 29-year-old who became a free agent when the Mets failed to offer him arbitration, but indicated that at least 15 teams have expressed some degree of interest and downplayed the notion that the defending National League East champions have separated themselves...

A day's work for a day's pay Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez, on striking out Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez in the fabled "K-Rod vs. A-Rod" showdown on Sunday night. "That's what I get paid for. " On the block The Texas Rangers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday in hopes of speeding the $575 million sale of the team to a group of investors that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Under the plan, the new owners would pay the $75 million of debt owed by current owner Tom Hicks, including nearly $25 million in deferred salary to Alex Rodriguez.

Washington manager Jim Riggleman came into last night's matchup against the Mets with a rookie on the mound and his top two relievers in need of a rest. In past years, that combination usually added up to big trouble. Not for these Nats. Luis Atilano, on his 25th birthday, pitched admirably into the sixth inning, then a makeshift bullpen held on to give the visiting Nationals a 3-2 victory over New York without closer Matt Capps or setup man Tyler Clippard available. "He really did a nice job for us. We wanted to get everything we could out of him because we knew we didn't have Clippard and Capps at the other end," Riggleman said.

John Maine stood on the mound with wrappers and napkins swirling around him in the chilly, 26 mph wind and decided to have some fun. Why not? The Mets were on a roll and a win would give them their best homestand in more than 20 years. Using mostly fastballs for the first time this season, Maine returned from an odd injury and pitched into the seventh inning, leading the New York Mets over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3, yesterday for their seventh straight victory. "The wind, the coldness, you can't do anything about it you just got to go out there and enjoy it," Maine said.

Roy Oswalt moved into second place on the Astros' all-time strikeouts list in leading Houston to a 4-3 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates last night. Carlos Lee had a two-run double and Jeff Keppinger and Pedro Feliz drove in runs for the Astros, who have won six of eight after an 0-8 start. Oswalt (2-2) allowed four hits, struck out four and didn't give up a run until his last inning, the seventh. Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect eighth and Matt Lindstrom shut out Pittsburgh in the ninth to earn his fifth save in as many chances this season.

  Tonight at 7:05 New York RHP Nelson Figueroa (2-4, 4.74 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (8-9, 4.32).   Tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. New York RHP Mike Pelfrey (10-10, 4.83) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (12-9, 4.98).   Sunday at 1:05 p.m. New York RHP John Maine (5-4, 4.52) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06).   Sunday at 8:05 p.m. New York RHP Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78) vs. RHP Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64).