Cincinnati, OH (Best E Casino) - David Wright's opposite-field two-run home run tied the game with one out in the ninth and Carlos Delgado's single drove in the go-ahead run, as the Mets rallied for their 10th straight victory, 10-8, over Cincinnati to kick off Major League Baseball's second half for both teams.
New York won its 10th in a row for the first time since July 1-13, 1991. The franchise-best 11-game winning streak -- last achieved during the 1990 campaign -- is now just one win away.
The red-hot Mets joined the Philadelphia Phillies atop the National League East with identical 52-44 records. On a day that saw the Phillies bolster their starting rotation with the acquisition of Joe Blanton from Oakland, New York went about its business in the same fashion it had prior to the All-Star break.
Jose Reyes struck out to start the ninth, but pinch-hitter Argenis Reyes singled in front of Wright, who hit an outside fastball over Ken Griffey, Jr.'s glove and into the first row of seats in right field.
Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley each singled to create a first-and-third situation. Delgado then ripped a base hit to center for a 9-8 lead and Fernando Tatis drove a double past Jay Bruce in left, scoring Easley for the final margin.
Duaner Sanchez (1-0) pitched one frame for the win and Billy Wagner got back on the saddle after blowing the All-Star Game for the National League with his 23rd save.
Johan Santana didn't have his best stuff for the Mets, giving up five runs on six hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts over four laboring innings.Tatis and Delgado each finished 3-for-4 in the victory.
Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a solo home run for the Reds, losers in two straight.
Francisco Cordero (4-2) turned his fifth blown save into a loss, giving up four runs on six hits while recording just one out. Johnny Cueto was hit hard for six runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Cueto dominated in the early innings, striking out the first four batters he faced and throwing blanks through three frames. However, a one out walk to Beltran set the table for Delgado, who crushed a belt-high slider deep out of the ballpark to right for a 2-0 advantage in the fourth.
Adam Dunn's 27th home run -- a solo shot on a line to right -- cut the lead in half in the home portion of the fourth inning. Santana served up back-to-back home runs, as Encarnacion followed Dunn's bomb with a long homer to left.
The Reds continued to take solid swings at the Mets star southpaw. Joey Votto singled and David Ross walked before Cueto's bunt was fielded by Santana, who spun to third for the force. Bruce doubled home Ross and Jeff Keppinger came up with the big two-out hit -- a gap-splitting two-run triple for a 5-2 edge.
Wright's two-run base hit in the fifth cut the deficit to 5-4, and took the lead on Tatis' two-run opposite field shot in the top of the sixth.
Cincinnati rallied against several Mets bullpen arms in the seventh. After coaxing a pair of groundouts, Aaron Heilman gave up a double to Encarnacion. Heilman intentionally walked Votto and issued a non-free pass to Ross to load the bases. Scott Schoeneweis entered to face Javier Valentin, who lined a bases-clearing double to the left of Beltran in center.
Game Notes
The Cincinnati Reds placed infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, while activating infielder Jolbert Cabrera from the 15-day DL. The Reds have placed four different shortstops on the disabled list this season, as Jeff Keppinger and Alex Gonzalez have both missed time with knee injuries...New York's Pedro Martinez will miss his next turn in the rotation after receiving a cortisone shot on Thursday to eliminate inflammation and promote healing in his right groin...Another Mets starter, Orlando Hernandez, left his rehab start in Binghamton after one inning with soreness in his right foot...The five runs Santana surrendered in the fourth frame tied the most runs the left-hander has ever given up in one inning.
