NEW YORK -- A good ending to a long road trip kept the New York Mets talking in the present tense for at least a little while longer. The Philadelphia Phillies, meanwhile, will arrive in New York on Friday having taken another step toward their future.The Mets host the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at Citi Field. New York (64-63) edged closer to the pack in the National League wild card race Thursday night by beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-5.The win gave the Mets a series win in the three-game set against the Cardinals and pulled them within 3 1/2 games of St. Louis for the second wild card. New York went 5-5 on a 10-game road trip but ended the three-city trek with four wins in five games against the San Francisco Giants, who are currently the first wild card, and the Cardinals.The Mets two wins against the Cardinals came in games in which starter Jonathon Niese lasted just one out before exiting due to a knee injury and in which rookie Seth Lugo threw five shutout innings in place of left-hander Steven Matz, who is on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.I dont care who were playing. weve got to put some wins on the board, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Weve got to get some streaks going, get back in the hunt here. Hopefully we get our pitching straightened away here in the next couple days where, going into that last month of the season, well know who is going to be out there.The Mets will send their one sure thing -- 43-year-old Bartolo Colon -- to the mound in Fridays series opener. Colon, the oldest player in baseball, will be making his team-high 26th start and will be looking for his 12th win, which would break a tie for the team lead with Noah Syndergaard. If he lasts at least 3 2/3 innings Friday, Colon will also surge past Syndergaard for the Mets lead in innings pitched.While the ageless Colon pitches for the Mets, the Phillies youth movement will be on full display with their battery. Adam Morgan, a 26-year-old left-hander, will make his 15th start of the season and the 30th of his career for Philadelphia (59-68), which is headed for its fifth straight non-winning season.Morgan may be throwing to rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro, who is expected to be promoted following Thursdays trade that sent 37-year-old catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for fellow aging backstop A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later.With Ruiz gone, the only member of the Phillies 2008 World Series-winning squad still wearing a Philadelphia uniform is first baseman Ryan Howard, who is sure to depart following the season. While general manager Matt Klentak said the organization was glad to give Ruiz a chance at pursuing another ring, he acknowledged the trade will leave a big hole to fill for a rebuilding club.Carlos has been such an important leader for so long, we knew we had to fill a role on and off the field, Klentak told CSNPhilly.com. There is a reasonably good chance one of our young catching prospects will be in the big leagues before the season is over. Nike Vapormax Sale . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Clearance Nike Vapormax Online . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. http://www.cheapvapormax.us/ . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Wholesale Nike Vapormax . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Wholesale Nike Vapormax Free Shipping . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Drew Smyly found his curveball and ended a long personal skid.Smyly struck out Alex Rodriguez three times en route to stopping an 11-start winless streak, and the Tampa Bay Rays sent the New York Yankees to their third straight loss, 6-3 Saturday night.Ive been kind of fighting my offspeed pitches all season, and when youre not locating your offspeed, it makes pitching tough, Smyly said. I dont have an overpowering fastball, so I need those secondary pitches to keep the hitter off balance.Smyly (3-11) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, and Alex Colome worked the ninth to get his 24th save. Tampa Bay is 7-5 since losing 24 of 27.Tonight was the best hes felt with his curveball in quite some time, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Brad Miller hit a solo homer in the first, and Curt Casali had a two-run drive during the third. Tim Beckham made it 6-2 on a two-run shot in the seventh off Anthony Swarzak.Jumping on them early, I think as an offense thats a good mentality to have, Miller said. That definitely ignites everybody and gets them going.It was Smylys first win since beating Toronto on May 16 and his second over the Yankees this season.Im really excited about the way Ive been pitching after the break, and theres a lot of season left, Smyly said.ddddddddddddNew York had won eight of 10 before the skid. Having already traded closer Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees could deal right fielder Carlos Beltran, pitcher Ivan Nova, reliever Andrew Miller or others before Mondays deadline to make trades without waivers.Theyre frustrating losses, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Weve been inconsistent all season long.San Francisco and the Chicago White Sox both had two scouts at the game. Others teams scouting the series include Baltimore, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Texas, Toronto and Washington.Brett Gardner and Chase Headley homered for the Yankees. Nathan Eovaldi (9-7) allowed three runs and three hits in six innings.TRAINERS ROOMRays: RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) made his third rehab start, striking out five over three hitless innings for Double-A Montgomery.UP NEXTYankees RHP Michael Pineda (5-9) will face Snell (2-4. Pineda has won his last two starts. ' ' '