Never Say Die Attitude Earns Mets Share of First

Playing on the one-month anniversary of manager Willie Randolph's firing, the Mets blew three leads before coming full-circle with four runs in the ninth to beat the Reds 10-8, to extend their winning streak to 10, and give them a share of the NL East lead with idle Philadelphia.

Like everything else this season, the win didn't come easy. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead on a home run by Carlos Delgado in the top of the fourth, the Reds answered back with five of their own in their half of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead thanks to a home run by Left Fielder Adam Dunn, a home run by Third Baseman Edwin Encarnacion, a double by Center Fielder Jay Bruce that scored Catcher David Ross, and a triple by Short Stop Jeff Keppinger that scored Bruce and Pitcher Johnny Cueto.

The Mets then cut the lead to 5-4 after a two RBI single by David Wright that scored Brian Schneider who walked to lead of the top of the 5th inning, moved to second on a Nick Evans single, and to third on an Endy Chavez ground out. Nick Evans scored on the same two RBI single after moving to second on Chavez's ground out.

In the top of the 6th, Fernando Tatis homered to right center scoring Carlos Delgado who singled before Tatis's plate appearance. The home run by Tatis gave the Mets a 6-5 lead.

However, the lead was short lived as the Reds scored three in the bottom of the 7th, as Pinch Hitter Jose Valentin doubled to right center off of Scott Schoeneweis to score Encarnacion who doubled earlier in the inning, First Baseman Joey Votto, who was intentionally walked, and Ross who was also walked, but not intentionally. The big hit by Valentin made the score 8-6 Reds.

The scored stayed 8-6 Reds until the top of the 9th with one out. That is where the Mets rallied off of Reds Closer Francisco Cordero for four runs, and the eventual 10-8 victory. It all started when David Wright hit a 2 run homer to left to score Pinch Hitter Argenis Reyes to tie the score at 8. Then, Carlos Delgado gave the Mets a 9-8 lead after singling to left center to score Carlos Beltran who also singled, and moved to second on a single by Damion Easley. Easley moved to third on the Delgado single after Beltran scored. The Mets then got their tenth and final run of the night after Fernando Tatis doubled in Easley. Billy Wagner shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 23rd save of the season.

To take a line from espn.com's recap of the game, with ten straight wins and a share of first place, the Mets don't look like a $138 million disappointment anymore.