John Maine didn't get a decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins at Dolphin Stadium. He did get reassurance that his right shoulder is ready for the grind of a full season.
Maine, who last appeared in a regular-season game last Aug. 23, before getting shut down with pain caused by a bone spur in his right shoulder socket, limited Florida to two solo homers, by Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. He retired 12 of the final 13 Marlins to face him, the lone baserunner coming on a third-inning walk to John Baker. Maine, who allowed only the two hits, departed for pinch-hitter Gary Sheffield after five innings with the Mets trailing 2-1, and his pitch count at 83.
"It wasn't fun at the end of last year," Maine said. "Just being able to get back there and throw pain-free, I was really looking forward to it."
Maine struggled early in spring training with his mechanics. He was rotating his torso so much early in the Grapefruit League, batters could see his name and the No. 33 on the back of his jersey.
"It took a long time," Maine said about getting his mechanics corrected. "I didn't pitch the way I wanted to at the beginning of the spring, but my arm felt fine, which I guess is the biggest concern."
MARLINS 5, METS 4: Darren O'Day allowed an inherited runner to score in the bottom of the ninth on Jorge Cantu's two-out RBI single, spoiling a dramatic comeback by the Mets. Jeremy Reed's two-out RBI single in the top of the inning off Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom handed the ex-Met a blown save and evened the score at 4. John Maine pitched five solid innings in his first regular-season start since Sept. 30 surgery to remove a bony growth from his right shoulder socket.
