The Mets were lucky to get out of Cincinnati with a split after winning Sunday 7-5 in 10 innings.  The Mets relinquished the lead on two occasions, but nonetheless, they pulled out the victory and found themselves again with a share of first place.   

Starter Mike Pelfrey, who has been very good as of late, winning his last six starts, did not figure in the decision, pitching seven giving up five runs on six hits while walking just one and striking out three.  Pelfrey, who has only allowed four homeruns in 108 2/3rds innings, allowed three homers in this game.  However, because he did pitch seven innings, the Mets were able to preserve their bullpen.  Duaner Sanchez pitched two scoreless innings in relief, walking one and striking out two.  Billy Wagner recorded his 24^th save of the season, and struck out each of the three batters he faced to close out the game.   

The Mets found some of the hits that had eluded their bats in Saturday’s loss.  The were facing Edinson Volquez, who has not allowed more than three runs, in all but one of his previous 19 starts.  He allowed four hits on 8 hits, while walking three and striking out 3.  Carlos Beltran gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, and the Mets tacked on two more in the second on Ramon Castro’s two run homer. 

Both Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes had monster days at the plate.  Jose Reyes was 4-6 yesterday with three runs scored and one stolen base.  He hit his 11th triple of the season and 63 career triples, passing Mookie Wilson’s for the Mets all time record.  

Delagado didn’t just have a good game yesterday, he had a great series.  He has had eight hits, scored three runs and recorded five RBI in the series.  In Sunday’s game he was 3-4 with 2 RBI.  Delgado’s hit in the 7^th tied the game at 5 and his sacrifice fly in the top of the 10^th gave the Mets a 7-5 lead.   

The Mets had two errors in Sunday’s game.  They really need to play better if they are going to make in headway against the Phillies this week. The Mets and Phillies open a three game series at Shea on Tuesday night.  The Phillies lost 2-3 of three to the Marlins.  You have to think that the wild card team is coming out of the central as the Cubs, Cardinals, and Brewers are all within games of each other and are playing pretty good baseball as of late; although the Cubs have struggled some after getting off to such a hot start.   

Johan Santana will start the game on Tuesday for the Mets.  Santana was putrid in his last outing and then blamed it on Billy Joel.  He has an opportunity here to win some Mets fans over with a good start against the Phillies.  Santana has one win and a no decision in his starts against the Phillies this year, in those starts, he has allowed five runs, walking none, and striking out 16 in 15 innings.   

Not to be overly dramatic, but this is a big series for the Mets.  They are at home, for the most part have (or at least had) been playing pretty good ball, and they are 7-3 against the Phillies so far this season.  They have to play well, they really need to win the series and show the Philllies that they aren’t going away. 

The Philllies will have the newly acquired Joe Blanton on the mound.  In two starts against the Mets, Blanton has thrown 15 shutout innings.  Game time Tuesday is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog