Santana is starting to shape into regular-season form, pitches into sixth inning of Mets’ win

Santana pitches into six inning for Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Johan Santana looks ready for the regular season.

The left-hander gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, stretching beyond the fourth for the first time this spring, and the New York Mets beat the Houston Astros 5-2 Wednesday.

It was Santana’s fourth appearance since undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone spurs in September.

Santana threw 93 pitches, struck out two and walked one. Astros third baseman Chris Johnson homered off Santana with two outs in the fourth. Jeff Keppinger drove in a run in the fifth.

Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy, who is batting just .167 this spring, had two hits, including a two-run homer off Tim Byrdak.