Mets' comeback falls short

A six-run ninth inning wasn't enough for the Mets.

An improbable rally fell just short last night when Paul Lo Duca flied out with a runner on third, and New York's 10-9 loss to the Washington Nationals at Shea Stadium cost the NL East leaders another chance to expand their cushion.

Tom Glavine was hit hard and the Mets dropped their fifth straight home game. They got help in Philadelphia, though, where the Braves prevented the Phillies from cutting into the Mets' two-game lead in the division.

New York trailed, 10-3, in the ninth before its stirring comeback. Lo Duca singled, Carlos Gomez drew a one-out walk, and Jose Reyes hit a three-run shot off Jesus Colome for his second homer of the game.

Luis Castillo's single chased Colome and brought on Chad Cordero. David Wright singled and Carlos Beltran's walk loaded the bases for streaking Moises Alou, who hit a three-run double into the right-field corner for his fourth hit.

Nationals manager Manny Acta pulled his closer for setup man Jon Rauch and the big righthander struck out Carlos Delgado as pinch runner Endy Chavez stole third, then Lo Duca popped to shallow right.

Braves 10, Phillies 6 - Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer, Chipper Jones had a two-run shot, and Atlanta kept its playoff hopes alive with a come-from-behind win in Philadelphia.

The Phillies blew a 5-4 lead in the sixth, when the Braves scored four runs to chase Jamie Moyer (13-12).

Padres 6, Giants 4 - Brian Giles hit a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the ninth, and the visiting Padres ended a four-game losing streak.

San Diego has a one-game lead over Philadelphia in the wild-card race. The Padres also pulled within two games of NL West-leading Arizona, which lost at Pittsburgh.

Brewers 9, Cardinals 1 - Prince Fielder became the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season, connecting twice as host Milwaukee pulled within two games of the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Fielder, 23, joined his father Cecil as the only father-son tandem to hit 50 home runs in a season.

Rockies 9, Dodgers 7 - Troy Tulowitzki homered to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs, and visiting Colorado won its ninth straight, eliminating Los Angeles from postseason contention.

Colorado remained one game behind San Diego in the wild-card race.

Marlins 4, Cubs 2 - Chicago managed only two hits in eight innings against Dontrelle Willis in Miami, and the Cubs' magic number for clinching the NL Central remained at four.

Indians 4, Mariners 3 - Kenny Lofton's sacrifice fly in the 12th was the difference as Cleveland tipped host Seattle. Indians catcher Victor Martinez left in the eighth with a right knee contusion.

Tigers 8, Twins 0 - Magglio Ordonez homered and doubled and Yorman Bazardo (2-1) threw seven scoreless innings in his second major league start for host Detroit, which staved off playoff elimination.

Rangers 3, Angels 1 - Los Angeles suffered a setback in its hopes of earning home-field advantage for the playoffs as Hank Blalock singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth for host Texas.

Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 5 - Pinch hitter Josh Phelps singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth after host Pittsburgh blew a four-run lead, and the Pirates halted a nine-game losing streak.

In other games - Frank Thomas hit his 513th home run in visiting Toronto's 11-4 victory over Baltimore . . . Houston rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat host Cincinnati, 8-5 . . . Kansas City scored eight unanswered runs to top host Chicago, 9-5.