Phillies 8, Mets 7: How much can the bullpen be blamed in an 8-7 loss that came in a game in which the Mets once held a seven-run lead? Not as much as people would think. Pedro Martinez gave back five of the seven runs he was given -- those tallies came thanks to home runs by Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis -- but was perversely still in line for the win. Luis Ayala, the......

Mets 12, Nationals 0: Any time Brian Stokes is hitting in a game he didn't start, Jerry Manuel must be either smiling or sleeping. He was smiling Wednesday as the Mets routed Jason Bergmann, who entered the game with a 4.13 ERA. After Monday's disgusting come-from-ahead loss, the Mets have bounced back with two straight impressive wins. Tuesday's was a nail-biter, but Wednesday's was anything but. Fernando Tatis, who has been cooling off slightly, hit......

Mets 6, Padres 5: Maybe Aaron Heilman is envious of Fernando Tatis. Or maybe he's no good anymore. Either way, the de facto Mets closer -- now with Billy Wagner on the disabled list -- almost ruined Tatis' evening. For much of the evening, the left fielder extraordinaire was the only player how could sniff San Diego starter Chris Young (who went to Princeton, by the way.) Thanks in large part to two Tatis taters,......

Left photograph of Jerry Manuel taking the ball away from relief pitcher Carlos Muniz (left) with catcher Brian Schneider watching by Alan Diaz/AP and right photograph of catcher Jose Molina talking to pitcher Mike Mussina by Bill Kostroun/AP Marlins 7, Mets 3: This game started by everyone hailing the continued resurrection of Fernando Tatis (who hit an RBI triple in the second). It ended with the Mets barely clinging to a half-game lead over......

Photograph, from left, of Melky Cabrera, Xavier Nady, and Bobby Abreu celebrating the Yankees' win over by Elise Amendola/AP Yankees 10, Red Sox 3: Fenway Park is allegedly a hitter's haven, but the Red Sox haven't enjoyed it much the past few days. That's because the Yankees' pitchers have been stingy. Don't look now, but the Yankees are only one game worse than the Red Sox in the American League East. Andy Pettitte surrendered......

Mets 2, Rockies 1: Wins against National League West teams still count in the standings. Remember, the Mets couldn't compete with the Seattle Mariners a few weeks ago. Now they are owners of their first seven-game win streak since 2006. Oliver Perez wasn't as sharp as he has been in recent starts, but he did produce six innings of one-run ball. He was fortunate to allow so few, as he walked six. Damion Easley hit......

New York pitching finally allowed the Giants to score, but the bats made up for it. Fernando Tatis put on a hitting show, providing two big hits in the game. With the Mets leading 1-0, Tatis hit a two-run double in the third. In the seventh, with the game tied at 3, Tatis hit a two-run homer to left that put the Mets back in front. ...

Mets 7, Marlins 6 (12 innings): One Johan Santana start plus not one but two last-chance comebacks equal a two-game winning streak and some signs of life from the Mets. Fernando Tatis, one of three reserves to knock in runs in Tuesday's win, hit a game-winning two-run double in the 12th. The game only went to extra innings because Endy Chavez hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth. Don't count on......