Mets' Maine finds silver lining in shaky outing
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VIERA, Fla. - On the surface, it didn't look like a good outing by John Maine. He served up a pair of long home runs to Elijah Dukes and Brad Eldred in the Mets' 5-5 tie with the Nationals yesterday at Space Coast Stadium.
But to Maine, who was despondent after his previous start, this was like "night and day" in terms of locating his pitches. Overall, Maine allowed five runs and five hits in three innings, but spoke optimistically about the progress he had made working with pitching coach Dan Warthen between outings.
"It is frustrating - just the results - but I felt good out there," Maine said. "I wasn't throwing the ball all over the place. If I was missing, I was barely missing. I threw the ball well. It could have just as easily been 0-0 as 5-0 and that happens. But I felt fine throwing."
In the first inning, Dukes crushed a 93-mph fastball for a two-run homer that soared over the scoreboard in leftfield. Eldred belted a three-run homer in the third inning. Maine has a 10.80 ERA after two Grapefruit starts, and with his current delivery issues, he's shelved the curveball project for now. "It's on hold," Maine said. "I've got to worry about some other things first."
Surgery for Pagan
Angel Pagan has decided to have surgery to remove a bone spur from the back of his right elbow and the operation will cost him six to eight weeks. The procedure is scheduled for tomorrow at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Pagan was the favorite to secure a backup outfielder's job, but now that door is open for the likes of Cory Sullivan, Jeremy Reed, Bobby Kielty and Rob Mackowiak.
Extra bases
Sullivan and Marlon Anderson each had three hits. Ryan Church and Nick Evans each went 2-for-4 ... With the Mets off today, Mike Pelfrey will throw a bullpen session to test his left leg for Saturday's start. Pelfrey was scratched Monday because of a muscle strain in his lower leg.
