Yes, another post about "The Closer"

"Enter Sandman," indeed.

Baseball's a weird game. I mean, Tuesday's amazing comeback from 10-1 after two innings was far less improbable than the Yankees' stirring win over the Metropolitans this afternoon (with a lineup that sounded like the "B Squad" from Spring Training).

Pedro Martinez outpitched Mike Mussina and left after seven innings, with the Mets leading 4-0 and the sellout crowd at Shea Stadium shouting. The home fans were still screaming later, albeit for a different reason, when Wagner self-destructed.

Phillips, hitting only .174, delivered a two-out single off Jorge Julio (1-2) after Miguel Cairo drew a leadoff walk and stole two bases. Mariano Rivera (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings, a night after giving up David Wright's winning single in the bottom of the ninth.

Wagner, without a save on the line, looked nothing like the pitcher who overpowered the Yankees on Friday in striking out the side.

Jason Giambi led off the ninth a single, Alex Rodriguez walked and Robinson Cano singled for a run. With one out, rookie Melky Cabrera worked for an 11-pitch walk that loaded the bases, Kelly Stinnett walked to force home another run and pinch-hitter Bernie Williams was hit by a pitch, making it 4-3.

Pedro Feliciano relieved with the bases loaded and almost got the break the Mets needed to escape. But Damon, who grounded into his first double play of the season in his previous at-bat, hit a bouncer and barely beat the relay to drive in the tying run.

Mets manager Willie Randolph argued first base umpire Tom Hallion's ruling. Replays showed the ump was right.

Funny, they were writing Rivera's career epitaph -- again -- just this morning. This afternoon, he struck out Wright, Floyd, and Nagy to end the game.

Rivera, who retired Carlos Beltran and Delgado in the 10th with the winning run on base, struck out Wright, Floyd and Xavier Nady in the 11th to nail down the win.

"There's no sweet revenge; it's the game," Rivera said. "I'm not going to run from anybody, so I was going at them. I was in command. I was much better."

Congrats to Barry Bonds, tied at number-two on the career HR list. Too bad he's the very apotheosis of The Babe.