Mets level series

The New York Mets have survived a late scare to win game six of their National League Championship Series against the St Louis Cardinals 4-2 and level the series the best of seven series 3-3.

Mets pitcher John Maine: The main man in New York

The Mets winning runs came as Jose Reyes hit a first-inning leadoff homer, Shawn Green had an RBI single and Paul Lo Duca delivered a two-run base hit.

The New York side will have the advantage of hosting the seventh and final game of the series.

With diminishing pitching options, the Mets looked to rookie righthander John Maine to start and he repaid the coaching staff’s faith as he allowed just a pair of hits, walked four – one intentional – and struck out five, giving the Mets a chance to play for their first World Series appearance since 2000.

“They are good hitting team,” Maine said. “I try not to put too much pressure on myself just find the strike zone.”
  
The Cardinals who were looking to seal their place in the World Series simply couldn’t find the big hit they were looking for.

Cardinals’ pitcher Chris Carpenter, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, failed to deliver for the second time in the series.
  
The righthander was ineffective in his Game Two outing, allowing five runs in six innings.
  
While he improved in this match, he was no match for Maine who was in inspired form.

“He (Maine) had a really good fastball and really went after them,” Lo Duca said. “I told him before game I wouldn’t want anybody else pitching but you right now.”

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies