Glavine's back to help Mets

Tom Glavine wasn't too disappointed that he didn't get the win in his first start since being sidelined by a blood clot.

What's important is that he's healthy. And besides, the New York Mets still beat the Houston Astros 8-7 on Friday night in Houston thanks to pinch hitter Jose Valentin's RBI double that broke an eighth inning tie.

"Right now my goals are simple, I just want to feel good and come out of the game feeling good and that happened tonight so that's good," Glavine said.

The game was tied at 6 when Valentin's hit to the corner in left scored David Wright, who had three RBIs. Endy Chavez followed with an RBI-single to extend the lead.

The loss ended a season-high six-game winning streak for the Astros who are looking to make a push for the playoffs.

Glavine made his first appearance in more than two weeks after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his pitching shoulder. He remained stalled at 287 wins after leaving the game with the scored tied 6-6.

Glavine threw 93 pitches, 52 for strikes and allowed seven hits and six runs while striking out five.

But the National League-leading Mets should be encouraged by the 40-year-old two-time Cy Young winner's return to the mound as they gear up for the playoffs, even if it was less than stellar.

He said he hasn't felt the coldness in his left ring finger that led to his absence in almost a week.

"I'm very excited about Glavine tonight," manager Willie Randolph said. "I said before the game, win or lose, it will be good just to see him out there healthy."

He looked good early, retiring the first six batters before giving up a single to lead off the third inning. He consistently threw 85-87 mph fastballs and retired three more batters before getting into trouble in the fourth.

He allowed four straight hits after striking out Willy Taveras to lead off the inning. Jason Lane had an RBI-single after two consecutive hits.

Morgan Ensberg's single to left field loaded the bases before Glavine walked Chris Burke to make it 3-2. After a short meeting on the mound with a coach and his catcher, Glavine remained in the game only to allow a two-RBI single to Humberto Quintero two pitches later. Quintero was making his first start of the season.

Burke scored on a wild pitch to finish out Houston's five-run inning.