MLB: N.Y. Mets 5, Boston 3

BOSTON, May 22 (UPI) -- Johan Santana struck out eight over seven innings Friday and remained the National League's ERA leader by leading the New York Mets past Boston 5-3.

Santana (6-2) allowed six hits and three runs while winning for the 15th time in his last 17 decisions dating to last season. His ERA rose from 1.36 to 1.50.

New York ended a four-game losing streak and took the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning that gave the Mets a 4-1 advantage.

David Wright, Omir Santos and Ramon Martinez all had RBI singles in the fourth after Gary Sheffield had homered for the Mets in the second.

After Santana left the game, Bobby Parnell worked a perfect eighth and Francisco Rodriguez worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 12th save.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2), who had been sidelined with arm fatigue since mid-April, worked five innings while giving up five hits and four runs.

Boston went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and David Ortiz continued to struggle at the plate. He went hitless in four at-bats, struck out three times and saw his batting average drop to .205.