7,431: Mets lose fourth straight as Astros win 4-0

The New York Mets scattered nine hits but couldn’t score a single run as the team dropped its fourth straight in a 4-0 loss to the Houston Astros.

Starter Oliver Perez pitched well early (a second-inning homer by Ty Wigginton aside), but he got into trouble in the fourth by yielding four consecutive hits – three of them doubles – for three runs.

Perez lost his no-hitter in the first inning when leadoff hitter Kaz Matsui singled to right center. It was the 30th time this season that a Mets starter has given up a leadoff hit, and the 908th time in the team’s 46 1/2-season history. (See our No-hitters killed by first at bat page for more details.)

With John Maine placed on the retroactive disabled list to make room for another reliever, Eddie Kunz was called up from AA Binghamton and did his job in one inning of relief. Maine will likely miss just one start, and the move was made mostly to avoid placing Billy Wagner on the DL, as he’s dealing with stiffness in his left forearm. That’s troubling as despite last night’s blown save, we all know what happens when the Mets can’t call on Wagner to finish. (See Heilman, Aaron … Sanchez, Duaner)