page_title: John Maine
section_title: New York Mets
hierarchical_section_title: John Maine / Professional career / New York Mets
caption_attribution_description: I attended a Mets-Astros game at Shea Stadium on July 21, 2006 and took this picture of Maine delivering a pitch 04:58, 21 June 2007 . . Zookman12 . . 604×445 (60 KB)
context_page_description: John Kevin Maine is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets and Miami Marlins of the Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed.
context_section_description: He was called up from Triple A Norfolk in early May 2006 after rookie Brian Bannister was put on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Maine started on 2 May against the Washington Nationals and took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He was placed on the disabled list on 6 May with inflammation of his right middle finger, which he says hurt his 2 May start. He was reactivated on June 12 and was optioned back to Triple A Norfolk.
  On July 3, he was recalled from the minors and became part of the Mets' starting rotation. After a solid, if mediocre start off the DL, Maine had a start that could be said to have turned around his career. With Orlando Hernandez originally slated to start against the Houston Astros, early rain caused the Mets to put in Maine instead. He pitched a complete game shutout. That start continued a scoreless innings streak. Maine pitched a scoreless inning in relief, and then 22 scoreless innings over three starts, recording two wins and a no decision over that span. After his second scoreless outing, Mets manager Willie Randolph designated Maine as the rotation's fifth starter over higher-ranking prospect Mike Pelfrey.
  Maine's scoreless-inning streak reached 26 innings before he allowed a run. Against Washington on August 12, Maine retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before Nick Johnson hit a solo home run. The streak fell 5​²⁄₃ innings short of Jerry Koosman's Mets franchise record. His streak was the longest ever by a Mets rookie starter, exceeding Dwight Gooden and Anthony Young's 23-inning streaks by two. His 25 scoreless innings by a starter was the longest streak since Al Leiter threw 25​¹⁄₃ scoreless in 1998.
  On September 29, 2006, in his final at-bat of the season, Maine recorded his first major league hit, ending a streak of twenty-eight hitless at-bats.
  Overall, Maine went 6–5 with a 3.60 earned run average in 15 starts in his debut season for the Mets, showing flashes of dominance, such as his scoreless innings streak. His efforts helped the Mets win the National League Eastern Division. Despite his solid season, he was originally not expected to make a start in the postseason. However, after injuries sidelined both Pedro Martínez and Orlando Hernández, Maine found himself starting Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the Mets. In that game, he pitched 4​¹⁄₃ innings and got a no-decision. The Mets went on to win that game to give them a 1–0 lead in the Division series against the Dodgers. In the must win Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Maine pitched 5​¹⁄₃ shutout innings and defeated defending National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter to force a Game 7.
  Maine went to the 2006 MLB Japan All-Star Series along with teammates José Reyes and David Wright.
  Maine started his 2007 campaign with a win against the Cardinals, holding St. Louis to one hit and no runs in seven innings. Maine's success against hitters in 2007 continued, and he posted a 15–10 record with a 3.91 ERA with 180 strikeouts in 191.0 innings pitched. Maine's off-season conditioning program helped him to pitcher deeper into ballgames, and he started to become one of the more dominant pitchers in the National League.
  In April, he had a no-hitter through 6 innings against the Florida Marlins before a single by Miguel Cabrera spoiled the bid. After a solid April in which he went 4–0 with a 1.35 ERA, Maine was named the National League Pitcher of the Month.
  At the All-Star break, Maine led Mets starters with a 2.71 ERA, 93 strikeouts and was tied with Brad Penny for the most wins in the NL at 10 each. Despite posting great numbers, he was not in the All-Star game, when asked if he expected to make the game, he said no.
  On July 24, 2007, in the bottom of the 4th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Maine hit a 2-run home run to left field and received a curtain call. This was his first home run of his major league career. The Mets won 8–4, and Maine earned his 11th win of the season. Maine earned his Me
caption: Maine delivering a pitch in July 2006 against the Houston Astros, en route to a complete game shutout during his scoreless innings streak.
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