--RHP John Maine is not expected to appear the remainder of this year despite throwing a pair of simulated games, interim manager Jerry Manuel indicated. Manuel said he didn't want to put Maine in a position to worsen his injury, even though doctors have assured him the bone spur behind Maine's right shoulder won't cause further damage.
--2B Ramon Martinez made his first start as a Met on Thursday, with Luis Castillo and Argenis Reyes both slumping. Damion Easley, who hasn't started in nearly two weeks because of a right quadriceps muscle strain, indicated he could return to the position Friday. --C Brian Schneider was scratched from Thursday's lineup with back discomfort that required X-rays at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Robinson Cancel instead started against the Cubs.
--3B David Wright tied the franchise's single-season RBI record with 124. Wright, who matched Mike Piazza's 1999 total, drove in SS Jose Reyes with a first-inning single Thursday.
--RHP Pedro Martinez passed former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling (3,116 strikeouts) and tied Bob Gibson (3,117) for 13th on the all-time list with a sixth-inning strikeout of Rich Harden.
BY THE NUMBERS: 50 -- First-inning hits by SS Jose Reyes this season through Sept. 19, setting a franchise record. Reyes, who had 49 first-inning hits in 2006, had shared the record with Felix Millan, who had 49 in 1975.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That speech I gave, I won't be selling any CDs." -- Interim manager Jerry Manuel, after a 15-minute pre-game meeting on Sept. 16 in Washington failed to inspire the Mets, who lost that night's game, 1-0, to the Nationals.
