Mets gain split - bring on the Phillies

Had the Mets beaten the Phillies just once down the stretch last year, the final-day loss to the Marlins might not have ended the season. Two wins out of seven would have secured a playoff berth, and then who knows?

Well, after a first half full of drama in Flushing, the Mets have the division there for the taking and the Phillies are in town, and what better way to bury the collapse than to stick it to the Phillies here and now, with the two clubs tied for first place. The Phils just lost two of three
to the Marlins -- who are just a half-game out -- and are 5-5 in their last 10, while the Mets are 11-2 over their last 13 games.

Mike Pelfrey gutted it out for seven innings, allowing six hits and a walk, though three of the hits were home runs, unusual for someone who had only given up four coming into the game.

The Mets led 4-1 in the fourth -- Castro hit a two-run homer in the third -- but the Reds put up four in the fourth to take the lead. Carlos Delgado -- who remains red-hot, going 3-for-4 -- tied it up with a single in the seventh, and the Mets had a great chance to go ahead in the eighth when Beltran inexplicably got caught stealing third for the second out.

Terrible.

But the Mets hung in there and got a gift in the 10th when Encarnacion threw away a potential double-play grounder, scoring a run. Then Jose Reyes barely scored on a sac fly to right.

Wagner got his 24th save but after the game complained of lingering shoulder "tightness." He'll have an MRI Monday. Duaner Sancez got the win, his fifth.

Jose Reyes was 4-for-6 with a triple, his 11th of the year and club-record 63rd of his career. He also picked up his 33rd steal.

The Phillies series begins Tuesday night with Johan Santana pitching against Joe Blanton, the Mets' big off-season acquisition versus the Phillies' big in-season pickup.

Needless to say, this game is exactly why the Mets got Santana, and if he does not win, you will hear it from the fans, despite how well Santana has pitched this season.

Hopefully, the Mets will score a few for him.