For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., go to SNY.tv.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

The resilient Mets once again showed again they are a far different team than they were a year ago. What a tremendous effort for this team to fight back and overcome a brutal loss and a early deficit.

Although he did not have his best stuff early in the game, Johan Santana managed to settle down and pitch brilliantly through six innings tonight while throwing 106 pitches. The Phillies scored all three runs off Santana via the long ball in the first two innings. Santana deserved better tonight. It’s a shame an opposite field pop up is a homerun, but that’s what you get when you play at Citizens Bank Park.

It became obvious as the innings progressed the Phillies had a plan to work the count to get Santana out of the game as soon as possible - it work for the most part. The Mets bullpen was able to rebound off a tough night the day before. As the combination of Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith and Luis Ayala combined for three scoreless innings.

Speaking of Stokes, he continues to impress out of the bullpen. Perhaps he can step up and be the go-to reliever the Mets desperately need.

But the story of the night was Carlos Delgado.

Delgado, who was 3-4 with 2 HR and 3 RBI, is doing everything he can to put this team on his back. As Keith Hernandez noted during the SNY’s broadcast, it’s time to include Delgado in MVP talk. Wouldn’t that have a lot of people eating crow, if they’re not already.

It looked as if no one would help Delgado carry the load tonight, but with two outs in the eighth Daniel Murphy busted out of his 0-for-16 slump with a clutch RBI double off Brade Lidge to put the Mets ahead for good.

Murphy was followed by Brian Schneider, who blooped a single that scored both Murphy and Ryan Church.

The best part, it was an easy 1-2-3 for Ayala in the ninth.

Excellent win tonight, men. Way to bounce back.

The Mets will continue their road trip on Friday as they begin a three-game series versus the Marlins, with Oliver Perez (9-7, 4.00 ERA) taking on Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.42 ERA).

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The Mets (73-60) look to split their quick two-game series against the Phillies (73-59) tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, starting at 7:05 pm.

The Lineup:

• SS Jose Reyes
• 2B Luis Castillo
• 3B David Wright
• 1B Carlos Delgado
• CF Carlos Beltran
• RF Ryan Church
• LF Daniel Murphy
• C Brian Schneider
• P Johan Santana

The PItchers:

LHP Johan Santana (12-7, 2.64 ERA) starts for the Mets.

RHP Kyle Kendrick (11-7, 4.87 ERA) starts for the Phillies.

How To Catch It:

Tonight’s game can be seen locally on SNY and heard on WFAN.

The Bleachers:

For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…

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The veteran reliever has been assigned to New Orleans, but according to people connected to the team, he’s a likely candidate to join the team when rosters expand on Sept. 1.

…I’m not about to say Rincon is the answer to any of the bullpen problems or anything like that, but keep in mind that the park in Mexico City is actually at a higher elevation than Coors Field…

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The Braves traded Mark Kotsay to the Red Sox for Luis Sumoza.

Kotsay was having his best season since 2004, getting on base at a .340 clip, but without much power.  Sumoza is very young and made a nice jump this season in terms of getting on base and hitting for power.

Elijah Dukes returns to the Nationals tonight, replacing Austin Kearns.  A stress fracture of his foot sent Kearns to the disabled list.  This should be a positive move for Washington as Kearns is a light-hitting out machine, which Dukes does a decent job of providing offense.

Hanley Ramirez failed to turn a double play in the ninth inning Tuesday night, which cost the Marlins the game.  With 81 GDPs turned, the Marlins rank 15th in the National League.

For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.

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Additionally, Nelson Figueroa has been promoted and will be available in the bullpen for the Mets tonight in Philadelphia.

As such, Argenis Reyes has been optioned back to Triple-A.

For more information, be sure to check out ‘s Pre-Game Show starting at 6:30 pm, featuring Matt Yalloff, Kevin Burkhardt, Lee Mazzilli and Harold Reynolds.

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…i’m sorry to say it, and i know i should not feel this way, but i can’t stop thinking about it either…it just hangs there like a distant fog…again, this is a terrible way to look at things, i know, but i can’t help it…

…of course, it’s not going to keep me from believing that this season will be different…i’ll still pull for this team with all of my heart…but, last season is just so hard to forget…

However, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff writes…

“These Mets have two assets - well one definite asset and one perceived asset - that their 2007 predecessors lacked.  The perceived asset is a mental toughness to come back from such a crushing defeat.  The definite asset is Johan Santana, who starts tonight.”

 …that may be, ken…at least, i hope you’re right…

…what i do know is that i am getting real sick of seeing the Mets lose to the Phillies in games like last night…

…i know the Mets rebounded in an earlier series this season against the Phillies, and are 9–5 overall, but it’s these crunch-time type of games that i want to see the Mets win…you know, like the ones from last September…

…i believe in this current team, but night’s like last night remind me of last season, which i am clearly not yet over…

…hopefully, the players are…

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To submit a question for tomorrow’s edition of New York Baseball Today, featuring SNY’s Ted Berg and Harold Reynolds, e-mail baseball@sny.tv.

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The much-criticized Heilman pitched well in three, high-intensity, very-stressful innings for the Mets last night.

In the 10th, he struck out Pat Burrell, and set down Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.  In the 11th, he got Rollins to pop out in foul ground to end the inning with the bases loaded.  And, in the 12th, he struck out Chase Utley and Howard, and got Burrell to pop out, for a 1–2–3 inning.

Heilman has earned much of the criticism he has received this season.  At the same time, it would be unfair to ignore how well he pitched last night.

In his last 10 appearances, Heilman has a 2.40 ERA. 

That said, I still hold my breath any time he’s on the mound.

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To watch a clip of the show, click play below:

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Rollins, on his motivation, as quoted by Lauber:

“The other team gives you some inspiration, let’s put it that way. You’re able to take that and keep yourself motivated.”

When asked to elaborated, Rollins responded:

“No, just watch ‘em. If you were a player and you’re looking over in that other dugout, you’ll feel a certain type of way. Rewind the game. Just watch the game.”

According to Lauber, the Phillies have been offended by the Mets ‘over-the-top’ celebrations, especially Jose Reyes.

Frankly, after last night’s 5-for-7 performance, Rollins can say anything he wants, but the Mets so-called over-the-top-celebrations excuse is played out.

If Rollins needs that to get him motivated, rather than the sheer magnitude of this series, then he needs his head examined.

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