NEW YORK -- The Mets got big hits with the bases loaded and their bullpen was outstanding, for a change. If they keep that up, they'll have a much better chance of hanging on in the NL East.

Damion Easley delivered a two-run single with the sacks full, and Ramon Castro added an RBI double to cap a five-run eighth against the Braves' bullpen.

Delgado's clutch hit snapped New York's 3-for-42 skid with the bases loaded.

"Sometimes we as hitters, as players, put a little too much pressure on ourselves," Delgado said. "You've still got to see the ball and hit the ball. It's not like he's going to make up a pitch with the bases loaded."

One night after their six-game winning streak was snapped in Pittsburgh, the Mets won for the 10th time in 13 games and maintained their 1¬1/2-game division lead over Philadelphia.

New York received a strong effort from its unsteady bullpen, including newcomer Luis Ayala, after getting more bad news about All-Star Billy Wagner.

An MRI earlier in the day showed the injured closer has increased swelling in his left elbow, so he's out indefinitely. The Mets don't know when he might be able to return to the mound, if at all, this season.

The eighth-inning outburst left Scott Schoeneweis to close this one out with a one-hit ninth in a non-save situation. Aaron Heilman (3-7) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

"We just have to pick up the slack and do the best we can. At this point, I don't even know what else the organization can do," Schoeneweis said. "It's nice to be on the other end of one of those games. Someone else's bullpen gave it up and ours didn't. It's amazing how that works sometimes."

Oliver Perez kept New York in the game by allowing three runs in 6 1-3 innings against a lineup that had Omar Infante batting cleanup. Infante has three home runs this season.

With the Braves trying to hold on for their first one-run win on the road since Aug. 9 last year at Shea Stadium, Jeff Bennett (2-5) walked consecutive batters with one out in the eighth.

Carlos Beltran's dribbler for an infield single brought up Delgado, who popped out with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning Monday, keeping the score tied.

This time, he drove left-hander Will Ohman's pitch the other way and clapped his hands as he cruised into second with the Mets up 4-3.

"It's the toughest situation a bullpen can be put in and every reliever should crave it. I know I do," Ohman said. "I made a very below-average pitch to an above-average hitter and I paid for it. It doesn't matter how many times you get a guy out. The one time you don't stinks."

Easley singled off Julian Tavarez, and Castro's double made it 7-3.

Starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes stymied the Mets in his return from the minors, but Atlanta has lost eight of nine to fall a season-worst 14 games under .500.

The Mets improved to 3-7 this year against the Braves. The longtime rivals met for the first time since May 22 in Atlanta, where the Braves finished a four-game sweep that left them ahead of New York in the standings.

• Phillies 5, Nationals 4: At Philadelphia, Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking solo homer off Steven Shell (0-1), sending Washington to its 11th straight loss. It is the longest skid for the franchise since the Montreal Expos dropped 11 in a row from June 23-July 4, 1991.

Ryan Madson (3-1) pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge finished for his 31st save in as many chances. Lidge has 34 consecutive saves, dating to last season with Houston.

Jimmy Rollins got a mixed reaction from the crowd in his first home game since calling Philadelphia fans "frontrunners" last week in a television interview. The reigning NL MVP heard boos and cheers each time he came to bat and went 0-for-4.

• Astros 5, Brewers 2: At Milwaukee, Geoff Blum hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning for Houston.

Blum was hitless in nine at-bats before he hit a 1-2 pitch from Ben Sheets (11-7) for his career-high 12th home run, giving the Astros their 10th win in 13 games. Houston is 14-5 in August.

Brian Moehler (9-4) extended his winning streak to five games by allowing one earned run and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. He was 0-3 in his last eight starts against the Brewers, including 0-2 this season.

Four relievers combined to shut down Milwaukee the rest of the way, including Jose Valverde, who pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

Sheets lost for the fourth time in his last five starts. He gave up five runs and five hits inn six innings.

• Cubs 5, Reds 0: At Chicago, Rich Harden allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out 10 and bunted in the go-ahead run for his first career RBI to lead Chicago.

The NL Central-leading Cubs (77-48) improved to a season-high 29 games over .500. Chicago has won seven of eight and 17 of its last 21.

Harden (3-1) won a duel with Johnny Cueto (8-12), who gave up four hits over seven innings.

Harden didn't walk a batter and allowed singles to Jeff Keppinger in the fourth and Chris Dickerson in the sixth.

Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless eighth and Kerry Wood gave up a two-out single to Keppinger in the ninth while completing the three-hitter.

Cueto (8-12) allowed one run while walking two and striking out six.

• Pirates 4, Cardinals 1: At St. Louis, Ian Snell threw seven scoreless innings to outpitch Braden Looper and lead Pittsburgh.

Ryan Doumit had three of the Pirates' five hits, including an RBI double in the first that drove in the lone run before a three-run ninth.

St. Louis, which made two ninth-inning errors that led to two unearned runs, has lost eight of 11 at home and is 33-29 this year at Busch Stadium while going a NL-best 37-29 on the road.

Snell (5-10) won for only the second time in 11 starts since June 17, allowing three hits while striking out eight and walking one.

T.J. Beam allowed pinch-hitter Adam Kennedy's RBI single in the ninth before striking out Brian Barton with the bases loaded for his first career save,

Looper (11-10) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.