Maine is changing from being a "Minor League pitcher" the Mets acquired from the Orioles when they traded Kris Benson in the off-season to being a "nothing" pitcher. For all the excitement Reyes and his colleagues produced in the fourth, the evening was about Maine for those analyzing the Mets towards the postseason.
On Sunday after giving up two hits in the first, Maine retired the next 12 batters before walking Mike Lieberthal with one out in the fifth. Maine got into a jam in the sixth, giving up a single to Chase Utley and walking Howard with one out. He then struck out Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand.
The last Mets rookie to throw more than 23 consecutive scoreless innings was ... not Dwight Gooden, but Anthony Young -- 23 2/3 innings in 1992.
