Mets Scrap Out a Victory

METS 7

CARDINALS 4

With former Montreal Expo Ace Tony Armas Jr. making the start for the Mets, one would think that Brian Schneider should make the start as the backstop, since he caught Armas for most of the pitcher's career in Montreal and later in Washington D.C.

Don't tell that to Jerry Manuel, who, instead started Ramon Castro behind the plate, and Castro proved Manuel to be a genius as he drove in three runs in a 2 for 4 night.

The win lets the Mets keep place with Philadelphia, three and a half games back, and gets them closer to second place Florida. only two games back in the standings.

It didn't look good, early in this one, as Rick Ankiel homered to right center to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead. The Mets really never answered, and were down 3-1going to the fourth inning.

Then the flood gates opened. Carlos Delgado and Damien Easley both singled, and then Castro came up and doubled to left to shockingly tie the game at three.

Finally in the fifth the Mets put it together. Endy Chavez, who is starting to get hot with the bat, singled to past second base. David Wirght then doubled to move Chavez to third. Carlos Beltran preceeded to have one of those productive outs, grounding to second to get Chavez home to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

Ryan Church then ripped a double down the right field line for his 36th RBI, as Wright walked home from third. FInally Castro, once again, delivered with a single up the middle to bring home Church. The Mets grabbed a 6-3 lead.

In the sixth, David Wirght put the game away with a deep fly ball into the St. Louis bullpen in left center for his 16th homerun of the year. BOXSCORE.