Jorge Sosa

The New York Mets bunted over runners. They took the extra base. Their bullpen protected a lead. And, for the first time in a week, they won a game. David Wright's three RBI, Moises Alou's three hits and Mike Pelfrey's good-enough start helped the Mets beat host Washington last night, 8-4, ending a five-game losing streak that cut their lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games. "It's a big win for us. It's a win when we needed one," said Wright. "It seemed like everything clicked for us. " Pelfrey (3-7)

Wonder what Carlos Delgado thinks now? Prior to last night's 8-7, 10-inning loss to Florida - and the Phillies' 7-6 victory in Washington - the Mets' first baseman said, "We're the best team in the league. We have been doing it the whole year. " Until lately, that is. Last night, the Mets twice blew a three-run lead and lost for the sixth time in the last seven games when Dan Uggla hit an RBI double in the 10th for the Marlins. That, couple with the Phillies' come-from-behind win, narrowed the Mets' lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games.

Brian McCann hit a grand slam and leadoff man Wilson Betemit was 4-for-6 with a homer and five RBI, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 15-3 victory that snapped the host St. Louis Cardinals' seven-game winning streak last night. Chipper Jones had three singles and two RBI although his 14-game extra-base hit streak, which tied the major league record set by Pittsburgh's Paul Waner in 1927, came to an end. The Braves third baseman has a 17-game hitting streak, and during his run he had eight doubles, a triple and seven homers.

The Baltimore Orioles acquired righthander Kris Benson from the New York Mets yesterday for righthanders Jorge Julio, Baltimore's former closer, and John Maine. Benson went 10-8 with a 4.13 earned run average in 28 starts for the Mets in 2005. For his career, he is 57-61 with a 4.25 ERA in 165 starts. Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Benson's wife, Anna, was not a factor in the trade. A model and an actress, she has posed topless and publicly discussed details of her sex life.

Rafael Furcal hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to capitalize on Mark Prior's error, and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, yesterday. Prior (9-5) gave up just one hit in the first six innings, Andruw Jones' single in the fourth, before his throwing error gave the Braves an extra chance. Starting in place of Mike Hampton, who was put on the disabled list Tuesday night with a sore back, Jorge Sosa (9-2) allowed four hits and a run in six innings.

Jimmy Rollins thought he had hit the ball much harder than that. He had. But when he watched Carlos Beltran immediately take a step forward from his spot in center field in the top of the eighth inning yesterday at Shea Stadium, he thought Beltran would catch an inning-ending line drive to strand runners at first and second in a tie game. Beltran, one of the best centerfielders in baseball, simply doesn't make mistakes. "Dang it, right at him," Rollins said. But the ball continued to fly. Beltran had misjudged the ball.

Kyle Davies dominated the New York Mets with his arm - and his bat. The Braves' starter pitched eight strong innings last night and turned the game into a rout with a three-run homer over the centerfield wall, leading Atlanta past the visiting Mets, 8-1, and tightening the race in the NL East. Davies (2-2) allowed only six hits, but his biggest splash came in the sixth. The .096 career hitter drove a 3-1 fastball from Aaron Sele over the 400-foot sign, clearing the wall with plenty to spare.

After tough losses the previous 2 nights because of bullpen meltdowns, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner were hoping for a chance to redeem themselves and they got it as the New York Mets scored a 10-4 win over the Florida Marlins yesterday at Shea Stadium. "It's always good when you get the opportunity to pitch the next day," said Heilman, who gave up an eighth-inning, two-run single to Miguel Cabrera in a 7-5 loss Saturday. "You can't let yesterday affect today. " Moises Alou's second home run of the game gave the Mets a 5-4 lead in the sixth.

Two throws told the story of the New York Mets' 5-2 victory yesterday over host Arizona. First baseman Conor Jackson's was terrible; rightfielder Ryan Church's terrific. Jackson's ninth-inning throwing error allowed Carlos Beltran to score the Mets' go-ahead run from second. "The ball just got away from me," said Jackson, praised by Arizona manager Bob Melvin for his improved defensive play this year. "I made a bad throw. " Moments earlier, in the eighth, Chris Burke laid down a bunt and Mets pitcher Pedro Feliciano threw wildly past first base.

Ryan Howard said a couple of weeks ago that he was still tweaking and "twerking" his swing. He insisted yesterday that he still is. "I'm just trying to feel comfortable right now," he said after hitting his Grapefruit League-leading ninth home run in the Phillies' 4-4 tie with the Atlanta Braves at the Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. "I'm trying to get it back to where I feel comfortable hitting the ball where it's pitched. " Howard's ninth homer tied Dick Allen (1964)

Two throws told the story of the New York Mets' 5-2 victory yesterday over host Arizona. First baseman Conor Jackson's was terrible; rightfielder Ryan Church's terrific. Jackson's ninth-inning throwing error allowed Carlos Beltran to score the Mets' go-ahead run from second. "The ball just got away from me," said Jackson, praised by Arizona manager Bob Melvin for his improved defensive play this year. "I made a bad throw. " Moments earlier, in the eighth, Chris Burke laid down a bunt and Mets pitcher Pedro Feliciano threw wildly past first base.

NEW YORK - In the bottom of the first inning, a few Mets fans were chanting: "Let's go Washington. " In a 28-minute, 52-pitch, top-of-the-first fiasco, a microcosm of all that had gone wrong for the Mets as they blew a seven-game lead with 17 to go, Shea Stadium had gone from hopeful to fatalistic. If they were going to give something away and take their rightful places along Bill Buckner, the 1986 Angels and the 1964 Phillies, these Mets were going to do it in style. In his last game of the year during which he won his 300th game on his way to the Hall of Fame, Mets starter Tom Glavine threw 36 pitches.

Wonder what Carlos Delgado thinks now? Prior to last night's 8-7, 10-inning loss to Florida - and the Phillies' 7-6 victory in Washington - the Mets' first baseman said, "We're the best team in the league. We have been doing it the whole year. " Until lately, that is. Last night, the Mets twice blew a three-run lead and lost for the sixth time in the last seven games when Dan Uggla hit an RBI double in the 10th for the Marlins. That, couple with the Phillies' come-from-behind win, narrowed the Mets' lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games.

The New York Mets bunted over runners. They took the extra base. Their bullpen protected a lead. And, for the first time in a week, they won a game. David Wright's three RBI, Moises Alou's three hits and Mike Pelfrey's good-enough start helped the Mets beat host Washington last night, 8-4, ending a five-game losing streak that cut their lead in the NL East to 1 1/2 games. "It's a big win for us. It's a win when we needed one," said Wright. "It seemed like everything clicked for us. " Pelfrey (3-7)

Jimmy Rollins thought he had hit the ball much harder than that. He had. But when he watched Carlos Beltran immediately take a step forward from his spot in center field in the top of the eighth inning yesterday at Shea Stadium, he thought Beltran would catch an inning-ending line drive to strand runners at first and second in a tie game. Beltran, one of the best centerfielders in baseball, simply doesn't make mistakes. "Dang it, right at him," Rollins said. But the ball continued to fly. Beltran had misjudged the ball.

After tough losses the previous 2 nights because of bullpen meltdowns, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner were hoping for a chance to redeem themselves and they got it as the New York Mets scored a 10-4 win over the Florida Marlins yesterday at Shea Stadium. "It's always good when you get the opportunity to pitch the next day," said Heilman, who gave up an eighth-inning, two-run single to Miguel Cabrera in a 7-5 loss Saturday. "You can't let yesterday affect today. " Moises Alou's second home run of the game gave the Mets a 5-4 lead in the sixth.

Kyle Davies dominated the New York Mets with his arm - and his bat. The Braves' starter pitched eight strong innings last night and turned the game into a rout with a three-run homer over the centerfield wall, leading Atlanta past the visiting Mets, 8-1, and tightening the race in the NL East. Davies (2-2) allowed only six hits, but his biggest splash came in the sixth. The .096 career hitter drove a 3-1 fastball from Aaron Sele over the 400-foot sign, clearing the wall with plenty to spare.

Brian McCann hit a grand slam and leadoff man Wilson Betemit was 4-for-6 with a homer and five RBI, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 15-3 victory that snapped the host St. Louis Cardinals' seven-game winning streak last night. Chipper Jones had three singles and two RBI although his 14-game extra-base hit streak, which tied the major league record set by Pittsburgh's Paul Waner in 1927, came to an end. The Braves third baseman has a 17-game hitting streak, and during his run he had eight doubles, a triple and seven homers.

EXTRA BASES The Phillies started this season and the last one at 10-14. They didn't get to .500 until June 2 last season, but this year did it on May 4. . . . The Braves acquired righthander Jorge Sosa in spring training 2005, and he went 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA in 20 starts (and 13-3 overall in 44 games.) This season, Sosa is 0-5 with a 6.17 ERA in six games. He has allowed 31 hits in 23 1/3 innings. Might he be missing pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who has moved on to Baltimore? . . . It just won't be the same with the Mets visiting Philadelphia this week and Mike Piazza not with them.

Ryan Howard said a couple of weeks ago that he was still tweaking and "twerking" his swing. He insisted yesterday that he still is. "I'm just trying to feel comfortable right now," he said after hitting his Grapefruit League-leading ninth home run in the Phillies' 4-4 tie with the Atlanta Braves at the Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. "I'm trying to get it back to where I feel comfortable hitting the ball where it's pitched. " Howard's ninth homer tied Dick Allen (1964)