Beltran Gets Resourceful in Lifting Mets

Washington Nationals' Ryan Church (19) steals second against New York Mets second baseman Damion Easley during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 29, 2007, in Washington.(AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Nick Wass - AP)

WASHINGTON -- Sometimes, all it takes is a well-placed bunt to get a team going. Sometimes, one big swing does the trick. Carlos Beltran tried both methods Sunday, and his bid to spark a first-inning rally with a sacrifice didn't pan out. But when he went after an up-and-away pitch in the sixth, he hit the ball over the wall.

The New York Mets managed only three hits, but one was Beltran's solo shot, and that was enough to back John Maine's latest impressive outing for a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Maine (4-0) struck out a career-high eight and allowed three hits in lowering his ERA to 1.35.

"He showed me again he's getting better and better," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Each time out, he's stronger and stronger."

Has Maine shown he's going to be an elite pitcher?

"If he keeps going, he's going to be up there soon," Randolph said. "He's got a long way to go, but I like what I'm seeing."

Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and Billy Wagner finished the six-hitter. Schoeneweis got out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth by getting Ryan Church to ground out to first, and Wagner pitched the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.

The Mets limited the Nationals to three runs over the last 29 innings of the three-game series. Washington left 10 runners on base Sunday, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

"You get the snowball effect where you're trying too hard," Austin Kearns said, "and that's the worst thing you can do in these situations."

Beltran's fifth homer came with one out in the sixth off starter Jason Bergmann (0-2), who allowed two hits over seven innings and trimmed his ERA to 2.79.

"Hey, he's good," Bergmann said. "He hit the ball out, and that's the game."

It was the Mets' first hit since the first at-bat of the afternoon. Jose Reyes was credited with an infield single when first baseman Dmitri Young couldn't hold onto shortstop Felipe Lopez's one-hop throw from the hole.