If the Mets and Padres meet in the playoffs, it might be hard to match the back-and-forth excitement of this week's series.

Both teams could probably expect much more from their star closers, though.

Adrian Gonzalez homered in the 10th inning and San Diego edged New York 9-8 on Thursday night at Shea Stadium in a wild game that included blown saves by Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman.

"It's a rarity, that's for sure," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It just goes to show you closers are human. It's a tough role. People want perfection, and it's not going to happen."

San Diego took two of three from the NL East leaders in a potential playoff preview. The Padres increased their lead in the wild-card race to two games over Philadelphia.

If the standings hold the rest of the way, far from a certainty, the Mets and Padres would play in the first round of the postseason. Based on their matchup this week, that could be quite a thriller — for everyone but the closers.

Wagner and Hoffman, two of baseball's best relievers, both struggled mightily all series. Wagner blew one save chance and gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Tuesday before New York rallied to win. Hoffman blew two saves, sandwiched around a successful conversion Wednesday night.

Chad Billingsley (8-4) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings for his first victory in a month. He struck out seven. Takashi Saito earned his 34th save in 37 chances.

Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer off Bob Wickman (3-3) in the 12th and the Reds won their third straight. Mark Teixeira homered and Chipper Jones matched a career high with five RBIs, but that wasn't enough to keep Atlanta from its second three-game skid in eight days.

At San Francisco, Matt Cain (6-13) outpitched and even outslugged opposing starter Carlos Zambrano (14-10), shutting down Chicago for seven innings and hitting his second career home run.The Giants snapped a six-game home losing streak. .

At St. Louis, Josh Willingham homered twice and drove in a career-best six runs, including a grand slam off Anthony Reyes (2-13) that helped Florida stop an eight-game losing streak.Albert Pujols went 0-for-3 and was lifted after the sixth, ending his career-best five-game homer streak.

At Houston, Ronnie Belliard capped a five-run first inning with a two-run homer and Chad Cordero saved it for rookie John Lannan (2-2). Carlos Lee hit a pair of two-run homers for the Astros.