CINCINNATI — Ten straight wins and a share of first place. The New York Mets don't look like a $138 million disappointment anymore.

Right now, they're golden.

David Wright's two-run homer in the ninth inning sparked New York's biggest comeback of the season last night, a 10-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that extended the Mets' winning streak to 10 games and brought them a share of first place in the NL East.

Playing on the one-month anniversary of manager Willie Randolph's firing, the Mets blew three leads before coming full-circle with four runs in the ninth.

"We've been taking such a beating all year long for how we play the game and what we've done wrong and what little we've done right," closer Billy Wagner said. "I love seeing guys who told us two weeks ago how bad we stunk, and now they're going, 'Well, you're in first place.' Yeah."

They were 6 1/2 games out when they changed managers, fearful that they were playing themselves out of contention with an underachieving offense. Their 10th straight win completed the turnaround — they're tied for first with Philadelphia, back in the top spot for the first time since April 19.

That once-balky offense made it possible.

Down to their last two outs, the Mets rallied against Francisco Cordero (4-2), who blew a save for the fifth time in 24 chances, getting six straight hits against the closer.

Argenis Reyes singled, and Wright — an All-Star designated hitter at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night — hit a tying homer to right field that barely eluded the glove of leaping Ken Griffey Jr.

That was the spark they needed.

"My slider maybe wasn't good enough," Cordero said. "It was one of those nights. Whatever I threw to home plate was going to get hit."

Carlos Delgado had a tiebreaking single off Cordero, smacking his hands and pumping his fists as he rounded first base. Fernando Tatis doubled home another run to complete the comeback.

Those three accounted for all the Mets' runs. Delgado and Tatis had two-run homers off Red starter Johnny Cueto, and Wright had a two-run single.

It was the first time this season the Mets overcame a three-run deficit and won. It was also the first time they rallied for two runs in the ninth to pull one out.

"Winning nine in a row helps," Wright said of the comeback. "The biggest thing is you win nine in a row and you get that confidence, that ideal that you're never out of a game. That's what happened today."

It appeared that the streak — now matching Minnesota for the longest in the majors this season — was about to end when Javier Valentin hit a bases-loaded double in the seventh for an 8-6 lead. Pitching has been the foundation for the Mets' winning streak — four shutouts in the six previous games — but Johan Santana and the bullpen repeatedly failed in this one.

"It was one of those days where whatever you do doesn't go the way you want," Santana said.

The Reds scored five runs off Santana in the fourth, piling up a single, a double, a two-run triple by Jeff Keppinger and solo homers by Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion. It was Dunn's 27th homer and sixth in the last eight games.

It wasn't nearly enough against the majors' hottest team.

"That hurts big-time," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We played so hard, but we made some mistakes."

Duaner Sanchez (4-1) escaped a scoring threat in the eighth. Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 29 chances.

CARDINALS 4, PADRES 3

ST. LOUIS — Troy Glaus hit two homers and Rick Ankiel and Joe Mather added one each — all off Jake Peavy — and Kyle Lohse (12-2) won his ninth straight decision to lead St. Louis past San Diego,

Lohse pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and seven hits. Peavy (7-6) gave up eight hits and struck out seven in seven innings.

ROCKIES 5, PIRATES 3

DENVER — Chris Iannetta homered and drove in three runs and Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven strong innings for Colorado.

Jeff Baker was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs for the Rockies, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Brian Fuentes struck out the side in the ninth for his 15th save this season and 100th of his career.

Jimenez (5-9) gave up three runs and five hits and won for the fourth time in his last six decisions. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TIGERS 6, ORIOLES 5

BALTIMORE — Gary Sheffield and Brandon Inge hit two-run homers, and Marcus Thames added a solo shot as Detroit beat Baltimore.

Kenny Rogers (7-6) allowed four runs and 11 hits in six innings for the Tigers, who have won 24 of 35 since June 6.

Sheffield put the Tigers up 2-0 in the second with his 486th career homer and first since June 26.