Welcome back, Billy Wagner. There were no ninth-inning meltdowns, fireworks or ulcers in last night’s game. The Mets shrugged off Tuesday’s loss by defeating the Phillies, 6-3, so routinely it seemed like an old Seattle Pilots–Washington Senators matchup. They’re back in a tie for first place, and have an 8-4 record against the Phillies so far this season.

Jose Reyes had the big blast, hitting a three-run homer (his 11^th of the season) off Ryan Madson in the sixth, breaking a 3-3 tie. The Mets scored two runs in the first when Brett Myers walked four batters in a row and Marlon Anderson grounded out to drive in a run. They added a run in the third on a Damion Easley infield single (Easley had three infield hits, after getting hit by two pitches the night before―he’s due to get struck by lightning today). Carlos Delgado (two walks, HBP, single) moved up in the order, batting cleanup. He was so happy that he logged an extra-long entry in his diary, even including a few smiley faces. And he taunted Carlos Beltran about it the whole game.

Speaking of Beltran, why was he bunting in the eighth inning with runners on first and second and no outs? Swing the bat, Carlos. You’re just leaving it to your teammates to get the job done (in this case, Robinson Cancel, who grounded out without getting a run home). In all, the Mets left 13 runners on base, and were three for 13 with runners in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the third and seventh innings, and stranded runners on second and third in the eighth. They could have easily blown this game wide open. And Marlon Anderson looks completely dumbfounded at the plate, and he’s so lost out in left field, on one fly ball he pulled a map out of his back pocket and asked a fan for directions to the ball.

It was a nice, solid comeback game for John Maine. He went seven innings (for the first time since May 7^th), giving up three runs, six hits, two walks and struck out five. His control was much better than in recent starts, as he attacked the strike zone all game. Myers, on the other hand, was all over the place, having no idea where the strike zone was. He only lasted five innings, walking five and giving up three runs. Maybe he was called up from the minors too soon―he’s only 27, after all. Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith pitched a scoreless eighth. And Billy Wagner returned, putting the Mets bullpen world back on its axis. He threw a one-two-three ninth, and he and Delgado combined on a nice play at first to get Shane Victorino for the first out of the inning.

The two teams are back at Shea this afternoon at 12:10 for the rubber match of the series. Jamie Moyer takes on Oliver Perez.