Church's Slam Helps Mets Pound Brewers

The Mets are like a freight train running down hill right now, and it couldn't come at a better time as they get ready to welcome the hated Phils to town on Friday, while hopefully putting last September behind them once and for all.

"We understand what happened last year. It's a new season. We just have to play every day," said starter Oliver Perez, who benefited from the highest-scoring first inning by the Mets in more than a year by scattering two runs off five hits and five walks. "We're playing well; we have to continue to do the same."

The Mets continued their winning ways by beating the Brewers 9-2 to finish off a three game sweep. Ryan Church hit a grand slam, his first home run since June 1, and Brian Schneider added a homer in a six-run first inning that provided all the offense the Mets needed.

"Delgado, he was joking about it today, 'Hey, it's been a while, you haven't hit a home run in a while so why don't you get one today?'" Church said. "We shared a little laugh there when I touched home plate, 'Hey, I got it out of the way.'"

The Mets, winners of four straight and six of the last seven, finished this road trip in style after beginning it by squandering a seven-run lead against the Phillies on Aug. 26. "It seems like a tough loss seems to propel us, or catapult us to another level," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said."They responded real well, I'm very happy for them, very excited for them. We're in a position to do some good things. We've got another big series coming up, and we're playing pretty good baseball right now."

Delgado had a new message for Church after the game, as reporters thronged his locker, waiting to talk to Church for the first time in a while: "Talk to these guys, so I can have my space back."

On an injury note, Mets Closer Billy Wagner threw a 36-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday in New York. Tony Bernazard, vice president of player development, said that Wagner was "very strong" and Wagner's next step will be to throw another bullpen on Friday.