The Mets built a 5-0 lead through four innings as a run scored in the first on a throwing error by Jack Cust, Maine helped himself with a second-inning sacrifice fly, Damion Easley hit a two-run double in the third and Jose Reyes hit an RBI single in the fourth.

Later, the Mets' Jose Valentin smashed a three-run homer and Carlos Beltran hit a two-run single. Mets rookie Chris Gomez had three hits.

Maine (8-4) did not walk a batter and struck out six. He lowered his ERA to 2.87.

Cust, a former Met, hit a solo homer in the fifth and Eric Chavez hit an RBI single in the sixth for Oakland.

Loser Joe Kennedy (2-5) allowed five earned runs and eight hits in four innings.