Bungling Mets help out Brewers

MILWAUKEE - Ryan Braun hit a three-run double and scored on Johan Santana's throwing error, sending the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-3 victory over the Mets on Tuesday night that extended New York's losing streak to a season-high five games.

Prince Fielder added a 452-foot solo homer and Mike Burns earned his first major league win for the NL Central leaders, who have won four of five. They provided a fitting end to New York's worst month in nearly six years.

The Mets finished June with a 9-18 mark and head into July still missing injured stars Carlos Beltran (knee), Jose Reyes (calf, hamstring) and Carlos Delgado (hip).

Even Santana (9-6) couldn't slow the Mets' spiral after a wacky fourth inning that included an ejection and an easy fly ball that dropped in center field for a double. The ace left-hander also walked two, including Burns on four pitches, and made a wild error.

A night after Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee dropped a popup that cost Milwaukee two runs, Mets center fielder Fernando Martinez fell flat in the outfield in the bottom of the fourth.

With a runner on and one out, Corey Hart hit a deep fly but Martinez slipped on the grass and then carved up a divot during his slip while the ball landed untouched about two feet away, giving Hart a double.

Santana then walked J.J. Hardy on four pitches to load the bases, and pitching coach Dan Warthen was ejected by plate umpire Jim Wolf for arguing after a mound visit.

Braun, who drove in Milwaukee's first run in the third, lined an 0-2 pitch over left fielder Gary Sheffield's head, and the relay throw from shortstop Alex Cora bounced away from catcher Omir Santos before he could tag Hardy.

Santana was backing up the play and tried to get Braun, who had rounded third, but Santana's throw went well over the head of David Wright, allowing Braun to score easily to make it 5-2. Santana, loser of three of his last four starts, fell to the ground, staring off in disbelief after the play.

In the seventh, Santana gave up Fielder's 20th home run, a long shot to the back of the second deck in right field, before exiting. He allowed nine hits, four walks and five earned runs.

Those runs were plenty for Burns (1-1), who went 6 2-3 innings to get his first win in place of injured starter Dave Bush (triceps).

Burns' only costly mistake came when Wright hit a two-run homer to give the Mets an early lead. Martinez added his first career homer with two outs in the ninth off reliever Todd Coffey.

If the Mets lose Wednesday's series finale, they'll match their longest losing streak since September 2005.

NOTES: Milwaukee had a rough June of its own, finishing 12-15. ... The Mets went 7-19 in September 2003. ... It was Wright's first homer since June 9. ... Another examination of Beltran's bruised right knee also indicated surgery is not required. The second opinion from Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo., was the same as that of the Mets' medical staff. The Mets hope Beltran can return not long after the All-Star break. ... Reyes (calf, hamstring) flew to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to begin ramping up his workouts. He's been on the disabled list since May 26. ... McGehee said he didn't think he deserved a mention as a candidate for NL Rookie of the Year. The 26-year-old McGehee's .336 batting average entering Tuesday leads all rookies and he's on the rookie leaderboard for hits, runs, homers, doubles and RBIs despite just 25 starts.