Back in business
One month after they fired their manager, the New York Mets are back in first place.
All-Star David Wright hit a two-run homer that started New York's biggest ninth-inning comeback of the season, rallying the Mets to their 10th straight victory Thursday night, 10-8 over the host Cincinnati Reds. The Mets' longest winning streak in 17 years moved them into a first-place tie with Philadelphia in the NL East.
In exactly one month, they've come full circle.
"We've built this momentum and we've got our confidence back," said Wright, who drove in four runs in all.
When they fired Willie Randolph on June 17, the Mets were 6Z\x games out of first place and had the look of a $138 million disappointment. Now they're golden.
"We've been taking such a beating all year long for how we play the game and what we've done wrong and what little we've done right," closer Billy Wagner said. "I love seeing guys who told us two weeks ago how bad we stunk, and now they're going, 'Well, you're in first place.' Yeah."
One of the more intriguing questions coming out of the All-Star break was whether the Mets could extend their amazing run of victories. Their pitching has been sensational, with four shutouts in the last six games before the break.
Johan Santana couldn't keep it going, lasting only four innings.
A balky offense that figured in Randolph's firing made up for it.
Wright, Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis drove in all 10 runs. Delgado and Tatis hit two-run homers off rookie Johnny Cueto, who has now given up 22 in 20 starts. Wright also had a two-run single.
"Momentum is one of those strange things," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "You can't identify it until it's over. I guess we still have it."
Cardinals 4, Padres 3
At St. Louis, Troy Glaus hit two homers and Rick Ankiel and Joe Mather added one apiece, helping Kyle Lohse (12-2) win his ninth straight decision. It's the best such streak for a St. Louis pitcher since Chris Carpenter won 13 straight in 2005.
All four homers came off San Diego's Jake Peavy (7-6), who gave up four in a game for only the second time in his seven-year career..
Tigers 6, Orioles 5
At Baltimore, Gary Sheffield and Brandon Inge hit two-run homers, Marcus Thames added a solo shot, and Detroit won the only AL game of the evening.
Kenny Rogers (7-6) allowed four runs and 11 hits in six innings for the Tigers, who have won 24 of 35 since June 6.
Todd Jones, the fifth Detroit pitcher, worked the ninth for his 18th save.
