WOODWARD AND UPWARD

Mets 3, Padres 1, 11 innings (NYM: 47-46, 6.5 GB; SD: 50-44)

I really think things are going to start going the Mets' way here. I know I'm usually optimistic anyway, but there's a few reasons I feel this way moreso now than usual.

The first is that things in the division are starting to break their way. The Nationals are not playing like a first place team. They're playing like a team that has been exposed, and is desperately trying to cover up. Evidence - they're panicking. They made a good move getting Preston Wilson, but on Tuesday night, Cristian Guzman and Vinny Castilla were both taken out of the starting lineup (Castilla for injury reasons, Guzman for performance reasons). And now ESPN is reporting that Jim Bowden, the Nationals' GM, is trying to talk Barry Larkin out of retirement and into shortstop for Washington. That just reeks of desperation. The Nationals did win on Tuesday, but things aren't looking great for them right now.

Now the reasons the Mets actually control. Before Tuesday's game, the Mets were talking about how they needed to go on a streak. They've had enough of the .500 stuff, and want to go on a winning streak. The biggest talker was Cliff Floyd, and he put his bat where his mouth is on Tuesday night.

It didn't look good early. Kris Benson again pitched great, and again was left with a no-decision. Benson only surrendered a Khalil Greene solo homer, and five hits, in seven innings. It was 1-0 Padres into the fifth - and the Mets were being no-hit. But Cliff Floyd put an end to that with a bomb off Brian Lawrence to tie it at 1. (It's not like Lawrence was overpowering - the Mets tagged a few balls, but Dave Roberts had an excellent defensive game in center.) The game stayed tied into the 11th - and the Mets left a lot of men on base. They had plenty of chances to win this game.

As ineffective as the offense was, though, the bullpen was great. Dae-Sung Koo, Roberto Hernandez, and Braden Looper shut down San Diego the rest of the way. (I missed this game - I was at work, following it on GameCast, and Looper pitched two great innings. I'm kind of glad I didn't see them, though, because he makes me so nervous.) In the bottom of the 11th, after a David Wright flyout, Mike Piazza singled. Chris Woodward pinch hit for Looper, and homered to left, and the Mets had a 3-1 win.

This is a big win, because San Diego is a first place team. The Mets have to feel good about it, and hopefully it carries over into Tuesday's game...and hopefully Tom Glavine pitches as well on Tuesday as he did in his last start.

Another note from this game - David Wright batted fifth, and Mike Piazza hit sixth. Willie Randolph got angry with reporters who asked him about it - but he's getting closer to putting Wright where he belongs. The numbers support Randolph's decision. It's the first time Piazza has hit sixth since May of 1993.

ELTRAN*'S: After an 0-4 Tuesday night (when he had a couple of chances to win the game for the Mets) Carlos Beltran* is 6-20 (.300) in the second half, with 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 Run, and 0 SB.

WRIGHT WATCH: Continuing the quest for the team doubles record, future Hall of Famer David Wright was 2-5, with a double. So, in the 2ND HALF: 1 SEASON TOTAL: 23 TEAM RECORD: 44

THE KID'S KIDS: The Gulf Coast Mets won again, 6-2, improving to 15-7 on the year, 3 games up in their division.