NEW YORK – John Maine pitched seven solid innings and the New York Mets finished off their first series sweep at home since last August, beating the Oakland Athletics 10-2 on Sunday.

Jose Valentin had three hits, including a three-run homer, and Damion Easley hit a two-run double. Jose Reyes added three hits and an RBI, while rookie Carlos Gomez got three hits to match his career high.

The Mets have won three straight for the first time since winning four in a row May 25-29 against Florida and San Francisco. It was their first series sweep since late May at Florida, and the first at Shea Stadium since Aug. 22-24 against St. Louis.

New York scored in double digits for the first time since May 19 when it beat the Yankees 10-7.

The Athletics have lost six of eight and were swept in a series of three or more games for the first time since last June 30 to July 2 against Arizona.

In their first trip to Shea Stadium since beating the Mets in the 1973 World Series, the Athletics struggled to hit in the clutch. The A’s went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 1-for-15 in the series. They came into Sunday last in the majors in that situation, hitting .224. Oakland was outscored 20-3 in the series.

The Mets improved to 7-14 in June. In their seven wins, they have allowed five runs total. They are 0-14 this month when allowing three runs or more.

Maine (8-4) allowed two runs and five hits, striking out six without a walk. It was the 10th time in 15 starts he pitched six innings or more and allowed two runs or fewer.

Oakland starter Joe Kennedy (2-5) allowed five runs and eight hits in four innings, his shortest outing of the season. The A’s fell to 3-11 in Kennedy’s starts this season.

On the fifth pitch of the game, Reyes hit a blooper down the right-field line that Jack Cust, normally a designated hitter, couldn’t run down. Reyes went for two, and Cust’s throw sailed into left field. Reyes scored easily on the double and two-base error.

It was Cust’s third career start in right field, all this season.

The Mets added a run in the second on a single by Valentin, a double by Gomez and a sacrifice fly by Maine. It was Maine’s first career RBI.

Easley doubled to center to drive in Paul Lo Duca and David Wright in the third, making it 4-0. Reyes added an RBI single in the fourth.

When Cust lined an opposite-field home run to left in the fifth, it ended Oakland’s 20-inning scoreless streak.

Eric Chavez got Oakland’s first hit with a runner in scoring position in the series, driving in Mark Kotsay in the sixth with a two-out single.

Valentin’s home run came in the seventh off reliever Jay Marshall. Carlos Beltran added a two-run single in the eighth.

Notes: Mets 1B Carlos Delgado asked for the day off and manager Willie Randolph gave it to him. “His numbers against Kennedy were atrocious anyway,” Randolph said. Shawn Green started at first base because Julio Franco’s knee was bothering him. “His knee was barking a bit, he couldn’t really move laterally,” Randolph said. Franco pinch hit in the eighth and drew a walk. … Green last started at first on Aug. 16, with Arizona at Colorado. … Easley made his sixth career start in right field, and his first since last April 14, when he was with Arizona. … Oakland reliever Justin Duchscherer, on the disabled list since May 22 because of a right hip strain, felt good after throwing Saturday. He has yet to throw off a mound, but manager Bob Geren said he hopes Duchscherer will do so within the next 10 days.

AP-ES-06-24-07 1557EDT