John Maine gave up a first-inning single to left to the Atlanta Braves’ Mark Kotsay to bump our NoNoHitters.com count up to 7,324 games without a no hitter.

Maine is the current leader in our far-from-scientific poll (in the left sidebar) asking who will throw the New York Mets’ first no hitter in their 46-year history.

Last April, Maine had a no hitter going against the Florida Marlins through 7 innings before yielding a single to Thomas Teleisha. And in late September, when the Mets really needed a win, Maine threw 7 2/3 innings before giving up his first hit during a 13-0 win over the Marlins. Maine struck out 14 during that game.

Maine’s outing was less than stellar on Saturday. Maine gave up four earned runs and eight hits, lasting just four innings during the Mets 11-5 loss to the Braves.

Jorge Sosa didn’t do much to help his ERA either. He yielded a double, a single and a walk before giving up a grand slam to pinch hitter Kelly Johnson.

Oliver Perez gave up a leadoff single to Hanley Ramirez (which Ramirez unsuccessfully tried to stretch into a double) to bump our NoNoHitters.com no hitters count to 7,323 games. But that’s OK, as the Mets won 13-0.

Perez had a great outing, striking out 8, scattering 5 hits and walking just one in 6 innings of work. The 26-year-old lefty from Mexico, is coming off his best season, going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA. It was good enough to earn him a $6.5 million salary for this year, and the Mets hope he’ll earn it this season, especially with Pedro Martinez just being placed on the disabled list.

The team says Martinez likely will miss 4-6 weeks.

To take his roster spot, the Mets called up Nelson Figueroa from the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs and gave him immediate work - a 3-up 3-down inning in relief of Perez.

Manager Willie Randolph hasn’t yet set who will take Martinez’s scheduled start. Perez could move up under a four-man rotation, or Jorge Sosa could be pulled out of the bullpen.

Jorge Sosa’s strong relief work for the Mets this spring may have earned him a spot in the starting rotation.

Quoting a “person in the Mets hierarchy,” an article on the Mets’ Web site says the team is considering the 30-year-old right-hander for the final spot in a rotation that includes Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez and John Maine.

Sosa has a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings of work in Florida this spring.

Either Orlando Hernandez or Mike Pelfrey was expected to fill the slot, but neither has pitched well enough this spring to earn it.