After what happened last week against the Phillies, there was no way Johan Santana (pictured) was coming out after eight innings Sunday. The result was the Mets’ first complete game in nearly two years amid a 9-1 romp over the Cardinals. Colleague Jay Greenberg writes that Santana’s complete game gave the surging Mets an even bigger lift.

The Mets also got a lift Sunday from an incredible catch by Carlos Beltran than brought back memories of Endy Chavez’s famous NLCS grab.

In the notebook, Jerry Manuel thinks Pedro Martinez could start Friday in Houston. There are also items on Raul Ibanez, Ryan Church and Aaron Heilman.