From JOEL SHERMAN

Here is something you haven’t heard a lot in recent years, but the Mets should really be proud of the way they have plowed through this injury plague. Obviously, they have been helped by the stumbling Phillies to awake today just one-half game out of first place. But they also have found a way to not sink into oblivion with nine players on the DL.

And as I detailed in today’s column, Johan Santana personified all the fighter traits that Jerry Manuel wants from his team. Santana was not as good as Chris Carpenter yesterday, yet he helped the Mets beat St. Louis 3-2 and take three of four from the first-place Cardinals.

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