Aaron Rowand homers, Joe Martinez wins near home as Giants rout Mets 10-1

Rowand, Martinez lead Giants past Mets 10-1

NEW YORK — Aaron Rowand homered and had four hits, Joe Martinez won close to home and the San Francisco Giants routed a makeshift New York Mets team 10-1 on Monday night to split their four-game series.

Pinch-hitter Nate Schierholtz chased Livan Hernandez (7-8) with a two-run double in a three-run sixth inning that broke it open. Randy Winn added three hits for the Giants, who set a season high with 18 during a rare offensive outburst.

San Francisco, which began the day ranked next-to-last in the majors in runs, moved within one game of Colorado for the NL wild-card lead.

Gary Sheffield had an RBI single for the Mets, still missing a slew of stars, including David Wright.

The All-Star third baseman, on the disabled list with a concussion, returned to Citi Field on Monday and said he felt better — two days after he was hit flush on the helmet by a 94 mph fastball from Giants pitcher Matt Cain.

Martinez, from nearby South Orange, N.J., also had a frightening injury this year. He was hit by a line drive during his second big league appearance April 9, leaving the right-hander with a concussion and three small fractures on the right side of his head.

After a long rehab assignment, Martinez (3-1) returned to the majors Aug. 5 and moved into San Francisco’s rotation. He’s won twice in three starts, boosting the Giants’ playoff push.

Pitching with his parents and other family members in the stands Monday night, Martinez yielded one run and five hits in five innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter.

Pablo Sandoval got the Giants started with an RBI double in the third. Rowand sent a solo shot just over the left-field wall in the fourth, and Eugenio Velez tripled to open the fifth before scoring on Freddy Sanchez’s sacrifice fly.

Velez added a run-scoring groundout in the sixth, making it 6-1.

Hernandez, who pitched for the Giants from 1999-02, gave up six runs and 11 hits, which matched a season high. He has been roughed up in each of his past three starts, losing all three.

NOTES: Sandoval made two throwing errors at third base. … After capping a tough at-bat with a tying double Saturday, Winn got his second consecutive start in RF for the Giants. He went 3 for 5 with a double and scored twice. … Injured Mets CF Carlos Beltran (right knee) felt good after running in a straight line, manager Jerry Manuel said.