New York, NY (WFAN)  -- All right, we all know who Steve Pearce is now. And Mondays don't seem to be particularly good days to play the pitiful Pirates. But the Mets did return home after going 6-1 on their seven-game road trip, and in first place, someplace they weren't when they left Shea after blowing one to the Buccos last Monday. On August 11, Pearce's two-run single in the 9th inning broke a tie and pushed the Pirates to a 7-5 win over the Mets - yesterday, he got Duaner Sanchez in the 8th for the go-ahead run to bookend Pirate losses around a 6-game win streak for the Mets. Pearce is batting .222 with 13 strikeouts in 54 AB - but is 4-10 with half of his 6 RBI against New York. The Mets are doing what they have to do right now, taking advantage of a soft part of their schedule before their next road trip, which is considerably tougher with stops in Philadelphia, Florida and Milwaukee.

How are they doing it? With great starting pitching. Over the last eight games, including the terrible loss at Shea to Pittsburgh when Pedro Martinez pitched well, Met starters have compiled a 1.37 ERA. During the 6-1 trip, it was even better - 1.35. The starters walked 18 and struck out 38 over 52 2/3 innings. The pitching had to be great too - because the Mets Achilles heel - hitting with RISP - again reared its ugly head. I know the bullpen has issues, but it's fortunate that the Mets were playing the Nationals and Pirates, two teams that right now can't get out of their own way. The Mets were an unfathomable 2-33 (.060) with RISP during the Pittsburgh series, including 0-18 the last two games. For the road trip, they went 10-64 (.156). You're simply not going to beat better teams with numbers like that.

Johan Santana - who's really kicked it into gear - was named the co-N.L. Player of the Week along with - of all people - the Astro's Ty Wigginton. Much was made of Santana's winless streak - 0-4 in 8 starts with a sparkling ERA - during which he dominated. Johan, say hello to fellow southpaw and Philly ace Cole Hamels. Hamels' victory over the Padres Sunday night ended a 7 start winless drought during which Hamels went 0-3 with a 3.61 ERA. Hamels has allowed 2 runs or less in 7 of his last 9 starts, and 10 of his last 14.

Speaking of the Phillies, their West Coast trip went south - and so has their vaunted offense. They were swept by the Dodgers and then took two of three from San Diego to go 2-5. In the two wins, they scored only 3 runs. Over the last nine weeks, or since a 20-run outburst against the Cardinals on June 13, the Phillies, as a team, are hitting .235 with a .313 OBP and have scored 222 runs. The Phils are averaging 4.04 runs per game - 5th worst in the National League. In the last 11 games, they're batting just .197 with 7 HR and 32 runs. Chase Utley has swooned and last season's MVP, Jimmy Rollins, is nowhere near those numbers in 2008. Rollins had over 200 hits, 30 HR, 20 triples and 94 RBI last year - this year he's currently on pace for 150 hits, 11 HR, 11 triples and 58 RBI - a marked difference. The Phillies' schedule is tough - they still have four more with the Dodgers right before they host the Mets for two, four with the Cubs at Wrigley and four with Milwaukee.

Florida has their offensive problems as well. They batted just over .200 during their recent homestand while scoring only 19 runs. Since the All-Star break, the Marlins are hitting .239 - 29th in the majors. They embark on a three-city road trip - San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta - but they apparently will miss both Tim Lincecum and Brandon Webb. They also have three left in St. Louis. Renyel Pinto - a bullpen stalwart - has been awful lately - a 2.96 ERA before the break - a 10.32 ERA since. Of course, Pinto appeared in 57 games all of last year - he's been in 64 already this season.

The Mets' quick starts have helped them lately, Eight times in the last 11 games, they've put up runs in the first inning - a total of 18 runs. When the starting pitching has been as solid as it has, it's been a good cushion that somewhat offsets the weak RISP numbers that they've logged.

John Maine says his shoulder is not any worse - but not any better. Just five-inning stints his last two starts with no added rest before his next outing on Saturday against Houston. Bears watching - as does Billy Wagner's evaluation on Tuesday.

Ryan Church played five innings on Monday night in New Orleans, going 0-2. He's slated to go again on Tuesday. Eddie Kunz was shipped to New Orleans to make room for the latest bullpen addition Luis Ayala. The idea is for Kunz to get some saves against more veteran competition at Triple AAA, then rejoin the Mets in September.

Jerry Manuel was ejected again on Monday - that's 4 since taking over as manager for Willie Randolph - and 5 for the season.

Damion Easley did a nice job filling in at 3B and SS for David Wright and Jose Reyes respectively when Manuel gave each of his young stars a well-deserved and much-needed day off. Although it wasn't easy at the plate for Easley - he went 1-8 over the two games, bouncing into four, count 'em, 4 double plays.

The Mets need to continue this push against Atlanta and Houston in this upcoming homestand. The Braves are a wreck right now - during a 7-game homestand at Turner Field, they were outscored 47-22 while losing 6 of the 7. Houston has been 14-4 thus far in August, but you have to figure the loss of Carlos Lee will eventually start to take its toll. The Mets have won 15 of the last 20 at Shea and six series in a row.

Has anyone seen El Duque? Or his boot?

C U soon

Eddie C.