Three out of four the hard way

And... exhale.

Whether it was 10-0 or 10-9, a win is a win is a win, and the Mets escaped with a win Monday night in Philly, taking the final three games of the four-game set, moving a game above .500 for the first time in more than a month, and inching within 2 1/2 games of the Phils for first place in the NL East.

But boy, it wasn't easy.

It looked like it would be at the start, with the Mets grabbing a quick 5-0 lead on Adam Eaton, who was 5-0 against the Mets coming into the game. And with Pedro pitching much better than he had been recently, the Mets found themselves with an 8-0 lead after three and a 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, when Pat Burrell homered off Pedro. One double later, Pedro was gone, having thrown 5 1/3 solid innings.

The lead was shakier than it looked. Ryan Howard's two-run homer off Tony Armas - disputed by Jerry Manuel, who was ejected - made it 10-5, and then Geoff Jenkins' two-run shot off Aaron Heilman in the eighth cut the gap to 10-7. Enter Billy Wagner, who allowed a double and a walk before striking out Howard and getting the ever dangerous Burrell to fly out. Feliz singled in a run and Beltran's poor throw to third scored the Phillies' ninth run and let Feliz advance to second, but Wagner got Werth to fly out to right to end it.

Wright had two hits, including his 17th homer, and four RBI, giving him 70 on the season -- and he's not an All-Star? Come on. Chavez, Easley and Tatis -- three guys you wouldn't pencil into the starting lineup coming out of spring training -- had three hits each. Reyes and Delgado each had two hits as the Mets piled up 17 in the game.

You've gotta beat the teams you should beat, and the Mets have not done that this season. Now is their chance, with six games at Shea against the Giants and the Rockies before the midsummer classic. Four of out of six -- let's see it!