shea stadium

NEW YORK -- Most of the crowd of 56,059 that packed Shea Stadium for what turned out to be the final time were still standing and cheering over an hour after the game, and the Mets' season, came to a disappointing and all-too familiar end.

Of course, they weren't mourning the loss by the 2008 Mets, but celebrating the players who had starred at Shea over the course of its 45 seasons.

Any chance Johan Santana can pitch on no days' rest?

Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Mets brought back their ace early and he delivered, pitching a three-hitter that led them over the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a rainy Saturday.

With the crowd standing and chanting his name, Santana (16-7) assured the Mets will play at least one more meaningful game at Shea Stadium.

The Mets began the day one game behind Milwaukee in the NL wild-card race and two games in back of Philadelphia in the NL East.

Both the Brewers and Phillies played later in the afternoon.

Carlos Delgado and the New York Mets botched the final home opener at Shea Stadium the same way they squandered a big lead in the NL East last year.

April or September, doesn't seem to matter.

The Mets can't find a way to hold off Philadelphia.

Jamie Moyer pitched six effective innings, Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking single and the Phillies rallied past New York 5-2 Tuesday with the help of Delgado's key error in the seventh.