"He is one of the last reminders of the good old days, the last man standing from a Mets core that once won a division title. The rest have either retired or been traded or find themselves stuck on the disabled list and on the verge of exiting via free agency.

David Wright remains. Even in the least productive season of his major-league career, a campaign marred by his two-month absence due to a broken back, he endures. In today's 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres, a meaningless game between two humdrum teams, Wright provided his team with enough to survive.

With his bat, Wright launched a three-run homer, his 10th of the season. With his glove, he performed sleight-of-hand to aid starter Dillon Gee (11-4, 3.92 ERA).

"I think," manager Terry Collins said, "that's going to get him going.""