New York ? The New York Mets spent most of the afternoon resting up for the Subway Series. Then in one sudden burst, they went rushing into their biggest rivalry.

New York Mets manager Willie Randolph, left, celebrates as the team mobs Carlos Delgado, right, whose two-run single completed the Mets' rally Thursday in New York.

Carlos Delgado’s two-run single capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Mets startled the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, Thursday.

Manager Willie Randolph started a makeshift lineup because the Mets’ rain-delayed, 8-1 win Wednesday night ended at 12:53 a.m. David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes were among those scheduled to have a day off.

Instead, Wright and Beltran contributed as pinch-hitters as the Mets pulled off their biggest ninth-inning comeback since 1999.

Delgado’s one-out single gave them a final thrill – and their seventh win in nine games – going into tonight’s opener against the New York Yankees at Shea Stadium.

Ambiorix Burgos (1-0) won in relief.

Brewers 3, Phillies 2

Philadelphia – Ben Sheets struck out eight in 72â3 innings, and Gabe Gross hit a pair of solo homers for the first multihomer game of his big league career, helping Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak.

Nationals 4, Braves 3

Washington – Felipe Lopez returned from a rare day off by stopping an 0-for-13 skid with a single, double and go-ahead triple, and Washington rallied.

Last-place Washington has won six of its past seven games.

Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1

Denver – Livan Hernandez allowed four hits over seven innings, singled twice and scored a run for Arizona.

The win gave the Diamondbacks two victories in the three-game series and their sixth series win of the year.

Pirates 7, Marlins 2

Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh tied a team record with four sacrifice flies and took advantage of a team-record tying five Florida errors for the win.

Ronny Paulino had three RBIs, and Shawn Chacon (1-0) pitched five shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates.

Giants 2, Astros 1, 12 innings

Houston – Randy Winn beat out a grounder off Brad Lidge to score Pedro Feliz in the 12th inning, helping San Francisco avoid a three-game sweep.

Winn also singled in the eighth and scored a run after two wild throws by the Astros on the same play.