Like night and day

Funny how the Mets' fortunes change from one day to the next. On Monday, the team looked as lifeless as Peter Fonda in "Thomas and the Magic Railroad." One night later, they bang out 14 hits and seven runs in St. Louis, with almost everyone contributing to the attack.

OK, so it's not funny. It's incredibly frustrating. Every time the Mets have one of these games, we think, maybe this is the game that will spark the team to winning 15 of 20. Maybe this is the start of the run we've been waiting for. But it hasn't happened yet.

Tony Armas, leading the league in ERA in AAA, was called up for the start and pitched well, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings. After a two-run homer by Rick Ankiel in the first and a run-scoring double in the second, Armas settled down and allowed the Mets to stage an actual comeback.

Ramon Castro, who should be starting 2-3 times a week, doubled in two in the third to tie the score, and singled in a run in the Mets' three-run fifth. David Wright homered in the sixth in his three-hit game, and Carlos Delgado also had three hits. Ryan Church added two hits as he looks to be completely healthy again.

The bullpen was outstanding once again, with Heilman, Feliciano and Sanchez holding the fort for Billy Wagner, who set the Cards down in order in the ninth with two strikeouts. Sanchez did take a liner off the leg on what turned into a 1-5-3 out, but he seemed to be OK.

Pedro goes tonight and the Mets could really use a good performance from him. Hopefully, he won't tip his pitches this time.