David Wright has always been the one of the players who run from the dugout, hop around anxiously behind home plate, then pile on a teammate after he’s come through with a winning hit.
He finally learned what it’s like to be the other guy.
“I don’t know if it was a release of emotion or it just was everybody’s chance to get some free shots in on me,” said Wright, whose two-out, two-run homer in the ninth gave the New York Mets a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
“I think guys were taking advantage of giving me some rib shots and some jabs. I’m always celebrating everybody’s else’s at home plate, and to get to be the one that jumps into the pile is pretty fun.”
The first game-ending homer of Wright’s career bailed out the New York bullpen after it squandered yet another stellar start by Johan Santana, and helped the Mets close within two games of NL East-leading Philadelphia.
The Phillies lost 3-0 to the Florida Marlins earlier in the day. In other NL games, it was Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 1; Houston 7, Cincinnati 4; Atlanta 6, Arizona 4; and Washington took a doubleheader from Colorado with a pair of 6-3 victories.
The Mets had lost five of six but turned to their best stopper in Santana, who gave up four hits before leaving with a 3-1 lead and two on in the eighth.
Adrian Gonzalez singled in a run off Pedro Feliciano, and Jody Gerut homered with one out in the ninth against Scott Schoeneweis. It was the sixth time in 24 starts this season that the bullpen cost Santana a potential win, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Five of those collapses came in the ninth inning.
The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has eight no-decisions, and in seven of those he allowed two runs or fewer – not that he’s getting a whole lot of sympathy.
“It wasn’t my fault. It’s Johan’s,” Schoeneweis said playfully. “It’s his bad luck. The karma just carried over.
“It will turn around for him,” Schoeneweis added. “And if it doesn’t but we win the game, what can you do? It’s not like he’s scuffling for a job or something.”
Aaron Heilman (2-6) got two outs in the ninth for the win.
Wright’s drive off a breaking ball from Heath Bell (6-5) was his 21st homer this season. It also allowed Wright to atone for base running blunders in each of the first two games of the series and a costly error in Wednesday night’s 4-2 loss.
Marlins 3, Phillies 0
Chris Volstad (3-2) tossed six sharp innings and combined with four relievers on a four-hitter, helping visiting Florida win for the second time in three games against the NL East leaders.
Joe Nelson worked the seventh, Arthur Rhodes and Matt Lindstrom combined for three outs in the eighth, and Kevin Gregg finished for his 25th save in 31 chances.
Cole Hamels (9-8) allowed three runs – two earned – and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out seven. He hasn’t won since July 3.
Dodgers 4, Cardinals 1
At St. Louis, Clayton Kershaw (2-3) worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered for the fourth time in six games with the Dodgers, who averted a three-game sweep.
Kyle Lohse (13-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings, including his fifth homer in three starts, missing a chance to match his career high for victories set in 2003.
Astros 7, Reds 4
Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and Roy Oswalt (9-8) improved to 21-1 against Cincinnati as visiting Houston sent the Reds to their third straight loss.
Josh Fogg (2-4) allowed eight hits and six runs in four innings, the big blow coming on Pence’s three-run shot during a four-run third.
Braves 6, Diamondbacks 4
At Phoenix, Mark Kotsay homered and Charlie Morton (3-5) threw seven shutout innings to help the Braves win for the fourth time in 13 games. Mike Gonzalez finished for his fifth save.
Mark Reynolds homered and Arizona starter Yusmeiro Petit (1-3) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six for the Diamondbacks, who have lost two straight.
Nationals 6, Rockies 3, 1st game
Nationals 6, Rockies 3, 2nd game
Lastings Milledge homered twice in the opener and finished the day with five hits and five RBIs to help visiting Washington sweep a doubleheader by identical scores.
The Nationals got strong starts from Odalis Perez (5-8) and Jason Bergmann (2-8), who took a shutout into the eighth inning of Game 1 for his first win in nearly three months.
Joel Hanrahan saved both games, giving him three saves this season.
Just off the disabled list, Jeff Francis (3-8) lost his first start since June 28. In the nightcap, the Nationals roughed up Ubaldo Jimenez (8-10), who was 6-1 in his previous seven starts and entered with a 14-inning scoreless streak.
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