MLB

CARDS EAT UP MAINE COURSE

JUPITER, Fla. – John Maine didn’t exactly pick up where he left off last September.

Maine, who ended last season with a 14-strikeout, 13-0 blanking of the Marlins at Shea Stadium, was bounced around by the Cardinals here yesterday in his spring-training debut.

The young right-hander lasted just 12/3 innings at Roger Dean Stadium, giving up three runs, four hits and a walk before giving way to Scott Schoeneweis in an eventual 7-0 loss that dropped the Mets to 0-2.

Maine had two strikeouts but uncorked a wild pitch and got hit hard at times, most notably on a line drive to right-center by comeback hopeful Juan Gonzalez.

“I felt fine,” said Maine, who threw to his pre-set limit of 45 pitches. “I just left [some fastballs] up a little bit, and they got hold of a few. It happens.”

The Mets didn’t seem too worried about Maine, one of their two returning 15-game winners along with Oliver Perez.

“I didn’t think Maine threw that bad,” Willie Randolph said. “I thought his stuff was pretty crisp for the most part. He didn’t always make the proper adjustments on the fly, but for the first time out, you’ve got to give him that.”

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Major League Baseball was satisfied with the Mets’ explanation for sending just one regular position player to Lakeland on Wednesday for their Grapefruit League opener against the Tigers.

The commissioner’s office called Mets GM Omar Minaya yesterday morning to inquire why right fielder Ryan Church was the only projected starter to make the nearly three-hour bus ride.

An Internet report said MLB was considering fining or reprimanding the Mets because a memo had gone out this week to all teams stating that at least four regulars – either from last season or projected to play often this year – must suit up for every spring-training game.

Minaya told MLB officials that the Mets’ lineup for their 4-2 loss to Detroit lacked regulars because offseason surgeries and medical issues have left the club very thin at this stage of spring training.

“We considered the Mets’ response to be reasonable, so there won’t be any penalty,” baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said.

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Second baseman Luis Castillo (knee surgery) said he hopes to make his spring-training game debut as soon as this weekend.

Orlando Hernandez, who has yet to face hitters this spring, said yesterday that a toe ligament and painful bunion on his right foot are continuing to hold him back. . . . The Mets released their weekend pitching lineup. Jonathan Niese faces the Dodgers’ Brady Penny tomorrow in Port St. Lucie, while Perez makes his spring debut Sunday in Vero Beach against the Dodgers’ Derek Lowe.

Cardinals 7 Mets 0

bhubbuch@nypost.com