On the Mets beat

St. Louis (57-47) at the Mets (55-47)

Things are starting to get mighty interesting for the Mets as the look to take on the Cardinals and build on their series win over Philly. The biggest story thus far has got to be the hugely improbable resurgence of Carlos Delgado (see the post below for more info on that) and their equally improbable station atop the NL East. Things to watch out for: Wagner was good, but looked pretty uncomfortable in his last outing. He said, in the post-game interviews, that he was feeling fine but, given Duaner Sanchez's scary outing in game one of the Philly series, he'll definitely be someone to keep an eye on. Fortunately for the Mets, they've got one of their most consistent pitchers on the mound: Mike Pelfrey (aside: is this bizarro season or what?)

Pelfrey (8-6, 3.81 ERA) won six straight starts before earning himself the no-decision against the Reds (six hits over seven innings, but three uncharacteristic home runs). He has seen his ERA shrink from nearly five at the end of May to below three runs per nine. His hasn't lost since May 26 and the last time the Mets lost with him on the mound was on June 5 - a 2-1 squeaker against the Pads. Pelrey, though, proved himself susceptible to the long ball in his last outing and will have to watch out against the big bats of Albert Pujols, Rick Ankiel, Yadier Molina and pretty much every single other person in the lineup.

The Mets will face righty Mitchell Boggs (3-1, 6.59 ERA) - one of the 13 (hmmm) pitchers on the Cards staff. The Mets might have scarred Boggs a bit his last time facing them. The rookie had won three of his first five starts before being steamrolled for 11 runs (10 earned) over six innings on July 3. Boggs was promptly shipped to the minors and recalled on July 21 to work in the crowded 'pen.

Laura Albanese here for the liveblog...

FINAL: 7-2, METS. TWO-GAME LEAD

Top of the ninth
Duaner Sanchez in to pitch. Kennedy lines a single to center and takes second on defensive indifference. Ryan walks. Manuel is already on the phone, no doubt having flashbacks to Tuesday. Mather lines a single to left to load the bases. That's it for Sanchez. PITCHING CHANGE: PEDRO FELICIANO. Schumaker flies out to short, with the infield fly rule in effect. PITCHING CHANGE: AARON HEILMAN. Ludwick flies out to left. Kennedy tags and comes into score while Ryan goes to third. Pujols grounds the ball to Wright, he throws it low, but Delgado picks it out.

Bottom of the eighth
Reyes flies out to right. Chavez grounds a single up the middle for his fourth hit of the day. Wright pops up to third. Delgado flies out to Glaus in shallow left.

Top of the eighth
Joe Smith in to pitch to Ludwick, who hits a little bouncer up to Wright, who barehands it and gets him at first. Pujols strikes out for the third time - really odd considering that he doesn't strike out very often. Ankiel doubles and Glaus walks. Molina chops the ball to second and AReyes takes it to the bag for the force.

Bottom of the seventh
Brad Thompson to pitch. Tatis strikes out looking and Schneider grounds out. OtherReyes...erm...Equally Effective Reyes (for now) hits a solo shot over the rightfield wall. First major league homer. Marlon Anderson hits for Pelfrey and strikes out.

SCORE: 7-1, METS

Top of the seventh
Kennedy grounds out to short on the first pitch. Pinch hitter: Brendan Ryan. Ryan grounds out to short. Miles singles to left and Schumaker flies out to center.

Bottom of the sixth
Reyes plops a single in front of Ludwick in shallow right. Chavez lines a single off the mound that somehow bounces into shallow rightfield. Reyes goes to third and Chavez pulls into second for the shortest double ever. Wright grounds out to third. Delgado stikes out swinging for the second out. Beltran lines out to left.

Top of the sixth
Schumaker grounds out to short. Ludwick singles to rightfield. Pujols strikes out (again!) on a sinking fastball. Ankiel singles to left-center and Ludwick goes to second. Glaus lines the ball back up the middle and Ludwick scores. Ankiel goes to second. Molina grounds out to short.

SCORE: 6-1, METS

Bottom of the fifth
Wright chops a basehit to left for a single. Delgado hits the ball off the scoreboard for a two-run shot. Beltran walks and Tatis strikes out. PITCHING CHANGE: RANDY FLORES. Schneider grounds out to first and Beltran, who was running on the pitch, moves to second. OtherReyes lines a single to center and Beltran scores (if he keeps this up, he'll be promoted to Equally Effective Reyes). Pelfrey lines out to right.

SCORE: 6-0, METS

Top of the fifth
Moline grounds a single past Reyes for a single. Kennedy flies out to left-center. Boggs squares to sacrifice but Pelfrey fields the ball and tosses it to Reyes at second for the out. The relay is late and Boggs is safe at first. Miles strikes out looking on the slider.

Bottom of the fourth
Tatis lines a single to left-center. Schneider follows up with another basehit to put guys on first and second for AReyes. Reyes hits a grounder to Kennedy, who bobbles it to cost the Cards the dp - they get the force at second. Pelfrey lines out to second (runners stay put). Reyes up with two outs...he hits a long fly off the centerfield wall...two runs score and Reyes pulls up with a triple. Chavez hits a grounder to first, it takes a bad hop and Pujols barehands the ball and takes it to the bag for the out.

SCORE: 3-0, METS

Top of the fourth
Pujols pops out to AReyes in shallow right. Ankiel flies out to left. Glaus hits a slow roller to short and Reyes charges and fires to first for the out.

Bottom of the third
Reyes grounds out to first and Chavez lines a single to left. Wright lines a hanging curve to the leftfield corner...Chavez is off running and scores standing up. Delgado flies out and Beltran grounds out to first.

SCORE: 1-0, METS

Top of the third
Adam Kennedy flies out to center and Boggs strikes out. Aaron Miles singles and Pelf hits Schumaker to put guys on first and second. Ludwick gives it a ride to right but Chavez runs down the long fly for the out.

Bottom of the second
Fernando Tatis walks but Schneider grounds into the 4-6-3 dp. OtherReyes walks to bring up Pelfrey, who flies out to center.

Top of the second
Ankiel lines out to rightfield. Troy Glaus pops out to short and Molina strikes out swinging.

Bottom of the first
Reyes grounds out to second. Endy Chavez follows up with a linedrive to right past a diving Adam Kennedy. Wright flies out to right. Chavez steals second without a throw and Delgado draws the walk. Beltran grounds out to first and the Cards get the force at second to end the inning.

Top of the first
Skip Schumaker drills a ball to center but Beltran corrals it for the out. Ryan Ludwick rips a single to left. Albert Pujols strikes out swinging. Ludwick runs during Rick Ankiel's at-bat and gets tossed out at second by Brian Schneider.