-The Mets got a much needed complete game from Johan Santana, who tossed the club’s first CG of the season in an 9-1 blowout win over the Cardinals taking two of three at Shea before they hit the road for a big three-game series in Florida. The 29 year-old southpaw got plenty of support off the big bats of David Wright (20th HR), Fernando Tatis (2-run shot) and Ramon Castro (solo HR) as the Mets plated five in the sixth to put away a three-run game before Albert Pujols slugged his second dinger in two days in the seventh to break up the shutout. That was the only mistake Santana made as he went the distance on one run, six hits walking one and fanning five to improve to 9-7 lowering his ERA under 3.00. He also tossed a season high 118 pitches for his seventh career complete game.

-The Mets hope it’s a trend as they need their ace more than ever to deliver a big second half to hold off the offensive minded Phillies, who once again dialed up the offense with two five-run outbursts erasing an Atlanta 5-0 lead to win 12-10 and remain a game back. The Phillies got five home runs from different sources with Chris Coste, Shane Victorino (3-run shot), Pat Burrell (26th), Jayson Werth (2-run HR) and Jimmy Rollins (solo) all going yard to keep pace.

-Meanwhile, the Marlins blew 5-0 and 6-5 leads to the Cubs allowing four in the seventh at Wrigley to fall 9-6 for a split of the four-game series. Former Met Mike Jacobs two long balls in the second and third weren’t enough and neither was Dan Uggla’s 25th as Alfonso Soriano (3-run shot) and Derrek Lee (solo HR) combined to slug the Cubs back with the biggest hit coming courtesy of a pinch hit Mike Fontenot bases clearing double. The Marlins enter their series against the Amazin’s in third place trailing by two games.

-The Red Sox finally snapped the Yanks’ eight-game win streak by bombing Sidney Ponson for seven runs in the first four innings in what amounted to a 9-2 home victory avoiding the sweep and pulling within two of first place Tampa, who fell in KC 6-1. Manny Ramirez let his bat do the talking with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI’s and David Ortiz hit his first home run since returning and drove in three as the Sox took a two-game lead over the Yanks in the wild card. Trailing by seven, the Yankees did have one chance to get back in it when they plated two runs off Jon Lester in the fifth and still had the bases packed with nobody out. However, Alex Rodriguez lined out to third, Xavier Nady flied to shallow center and Robinson Cano grounded back to Lester allowing him to escape. For the first time since the break, the hot hitting Cano was held hitless in four at bats. Nady followed an 0-for-3 with another collar making him 0-for-7 thus far. He also stranded five. The Yanks as a team left 16 on base.