Santana Pitches Complete Game for Mets Latest Win

Coming into today's series finale and rubber game against the Cardinals, Johan Santana knew he had to pitch a complete game for two reasons. First, the bullpen was absolutely spent after losing last night 10-8 in 14 innings. Second, he had to try and put last Wednesday behind him.

To refresh your memory, Santana had a 5-2 leading going into the 9th against Philly. Jerry Manuel decided to pull him after he threw 105 pitches through eight innings. The Mets went on to lose the game 8-6.

Today, Santana got a chance to start the ninth, and in fact went all the way in the Mets 9-1 victory. Santana pitched brilliantly giving up just an Albert Pujols home run in the top of the 5th inning, which was one of six hits he surrendered, while striking out five, and only walking one which was the first batter of the game, Cardinal Second Baseman Brendan Ryan.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner pitched the seventh complete game of his career, his first since throwing a shutout against the Mets at Shea while a member of the Twins on June 19, 2007. It was the first Mets complete game since Oliver Perez beat the Braves 8-0 on September 6, 2006.

Fernando Tatis and Ramon Castro hit two-run homers to power the offense as NY pounded St. Louis Starter Kyle Lohse. The Mets got their other five runs thanks to a Carlos Delgado sacrifice fly in the 3rd, a Carlos Beltran single also in the 3rd, a David Wright homer in the 5th, a Wright single in the 6th, and a single in the 7th by the man of the hour Johan Santana.

Today's win for Santana was just his second win since June 1, a maddening stretch during which he was tagged with four losses and four no-decisions. The Mets went 4-2 on the home stand just concluded against contenders Philadelphia and St. Louis. They now go on a six game trip to Florida and Houston, winners of 15 of the last 19 games overall. The Florida series gets started tomorrow night as John Maine faces off against Ricky Nolasco and the third place Marlins.