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Mets edge Cubs on bases-loaded walk in ninth

May 15, 2007 - 3:43 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Carlos Delgado has not done much with his bat this season, but he ultimately did not have to take a swing to deliver a victory for the New York Mets.

Delgado drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning as the Mets took advantage of wildness by reliever Michael Wuertz to post a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

New York rallied from a four-run deficit for its fifth win in the last six games.

David Wright helped spark the comeback with a two-run homer in the fourth as New York overcame a shaky outing from starter Tom Glavine. The Mets added two more runs in the sixth before setting the stage for Delgado in the ninth.

Wuertz walked the final three batters, including Delgado, who fouled off four pitches before finally drawing the base on balls on the 10th pitch.

"I knew he was having trouble throwing strikes and I just wanted to be patient," said Delgado, who is hitting just .212 and was 3-for-24 in his previous six games. "(The last pitch) was over my head, but I've been known to swing at them in the past."

Jose Reyes singled to center with two outs off Wuertz (0-2) and stole second on a pitchout when the throw from catcher Henry Blanco was high. Endy Chavez walked on four pitches and Carlos Beltran was given an intentional walk on a 3-0 count to load the bases. It was part of 10 straight balls thrown by Wuertz.

"It shouldn't have come down to that. That was just a terrible performance on my part," Wuertz said. "I just can't walk guys like that."

The breakdown by Wuertz was another blemish for a Cubs bullpen that was expected to be one of the team's strengths but is now a liability.

"I'm going to find out if there are some young guys throwing in the minors. Maybe we can get some young guys up here," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "I've tried everybody out there. You keep hoping it comes around but we're getting into the middle of May."

Aaron Heilman (4-2) threw just one pitch to earn the win, getting Cesar Izturis to ground back to the mound with a runner on first to end the top of the ninth.

"You're supposed to make quality pitches. I was fortunate to only have to make one quality pitch," Heilman said.

Chicago starter Jason Marquis, who resides in nearby Staten Island, lasted five-plus innings and was charged with four runs and five hits, including a two-run home run to David Wright.

"It was one of those nights where I didn't feel in sync," Marquis said.

Marquis, who had won his previous five starts, also had a pair of hits, including a two-run single.

Glavine remained at 293 career wins, allowing four runs and six hits in six innings while walking four. All of the runs he surrendered came in the first two innings.

"Anytime you have a game like this, it's frustrating," Glavine said. "I just tried to eat up innings so we wouldn't have to go to the bullpen too early."

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who had a 20-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, doubled to right-center field with two outs in the first and scored on a single by Aramis Ramirez.

The Cubs added three more runs in the third. Mark DeRosa and Angel Pagan doubled before Marquis grounded a two-run single under the glove of second baseman Damion Easley to make it 3-0.

Easley also could not get to a short pop fly into right field by Izturis. The ball glanced off Easley's glove and bounded past incoming right fielder Shawn Green, allowing Marquis to score from first base.

The Mets cut the lead in half in the fourth when Delgado walked and Wright sliced his fourth homer of the season down the right field line.

Glavine kept it a two-run game in the fifth inning when he walked three straight batters but got DeRosa to fly out to center field.

The Mets tied it at 4-4 with two runs in the sixth. Marquis left after allowing a bloop single to Delgado and another single to Wright.

Will Ohman struck out Green but Paul Lo Duca greeted reliever Rocky Cherry with an RBI double to left field and Easley followed with a sacrifice fly.

Neal Cotts ended a threat in the seventh when he replaced Cherry and got Delgado to ground into a double play.

The Cubs played without star first baseman Derrek Lee, who is bothered by back spasms and returned to Chicago for tests.