Hernandez Keeps Pitching In for Mets

NEW YORK — At his age, Orlando Hernandez takes his starts inning by inning. Add them up, and they have produced some strong outings for the New York Mets.

Hernandez won his fourth straight decision Thursday, giving up four hits in seven innings in a 7-3 win over San Diego that stretched the Mets’ East Division-lead to a season-high 14 games.

“I don’t look at seven innings,” Hernandez said. “I look at it one inning at a time, three outs. I get through that inning, I look at the next inning.”

The 40-year-old right-hander came to the Mets from Arizona on May 24 to bolster the back end of the rotation. He has won four consecutive decisions, and in seven of his last nine starts has pitched at least seven innings. He has not lost in his last six starts.

Mets Manager Willie Randolph rested several regulars and surrounded Hernandez with a lineup of bench players, including three -- outfielders Ricky Ledee and Michael Tucker and catcher Mike DiFelice -- who weren’t on the roster a week ago. He kept the left side of his infield intact, and Jose Reyes and David Wright made the difference.

Reyes tripled home two runs in the second inning and then touched off a four-run rally in the seventh that broke a 3-3 tie.

Wright had two doubles, including the hit that scored Reyes with the go-ahead run.