Johhhhannn...Johhhannn!

Mets Ace Living Up To Billing

Jo-han!...clunk, clunk! Jo-han!...clunk, clunk!

That was what was heard here at Shea in the 9th inning. Johan Santana mowing down St. Louis Cardinal batters to the rhythm of the fans' chants augmented by the hollow beat of the ever-present Cow-Bell-Man.

Santana pitched the Mets first complete game in nearly two years, and his teammates knocked Cards' starter Kyle Lohse out of the box with a 5-run fifth inning as the Mets continued their torrid July with a dominating 9-1 victory.

For the first time this season we got to see the Johan Santana the Flushing faithful had been promised. He was masterful. His performance, combined with the 17-hit offensive output (including 2 by Santana himself)was enough to put any casual onlooker on alert: the Mets are back, and they are a force to be reckoned with...

The Mets will now go to Florida for three very important games.