The New York Mets are on a scoring binge. After struggling at the plate most of the first half of the season, the Mets have scored 76 runs in the past 11 games.

        “Players are feeling good about themselves,” manager Bobby Valentine said. “Things are coming together.”

        Mo Vaughn, whose three-run shot was one of the Mets' three homers in an 8-7 win over the Reds Saturday night, said the Mets' surge is like his own. He spent the first half of the season learning about the National League, after a career in the AL and sitting out last season with an injury.

        “It took us awhile to gain that consistency, but we're getting there,” Vaughn said. “Now we're having some good, solid at-bats.”

        Vaughn also had an RBI single as the Mets won for the sixth time in seven games.

        Mike Bacsik, looking for his third win in three major league starts, was hit hard in the first and second innings. He lasted into the fifth but came up two outs short of qualifying for the victory.

        No Mets pitcher has ever won his first three career starts.

        “I understand why I was taken out,” Bacsik said. “When you give up six runs in four innings, it's obvious things aren't going your way.”

        With New York leading 7-6, Mark Corey got the final two outs in the fifth. David Weathers (3-3) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the win.

        Armando Benitez worked the ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances.

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