Mets blow 4-run lead vs. Cubs, 9-6

NEW YORK — The New York Mets fumbled a chance to gain ground on the Phillies on Wednesday night, continuing another late-season swoon.

Derrek Lee's two-out RBI double off Luis Ayala in the 10th inning and Aramis Ramirez's two-run home run gave the Chicago Cubs a 9-6 win over the Mets at Shea Stadium.

It was the fourth loss in the last five games for the Mets, who are invoking memories of last-season's collapse — when they squandered a seven-game lead with 17 games to go.

The Mets remained 1 ½ games behind the Phillies in the National League East and are tied with Milwaukee in the wild-card race after the Brewers beat Pittsburgh, 4-2.

New York blew a golden opportunity when Daniel Murphy led off the ninth inning with a triple. After a David Wright strikeout and two intentional walks, reliever Bob Howry got a ground out and struck out Ramon Castro to send the game into extra innings.

Erratic left-hander Oliver Perez started Wednesday night for the Mets. Perez (10-7) hadn't lost since Aug. 3, but he labored over 4-1/3 innings, throwing 105 pitches. If ever there was a time the Mets' beleaguered bullpen could have used a rest, this was it. But Perez couldn't deliver.

Former Penn quarterback Mark DeRosa staked the Cubs to a 1-0 lead with a home run in the second inning, his 21st of the season.

The Mets retaliated with five runs in the third against starter Carlos Zambrano on a bases-loaded walk to Wright and Carlos Delgado's grand slam on a 3-2 pitch. It was Delgado's 38th home run of the season and 13th career grand slam.

DeRosa's one-out, two-run double in the fifth cut the Mets' lead to 5-3 and paved the way for Perez's exit.

It also was DeRosa's exit. He suffered a left-calf strain and was replaced by Kosuke Fukudome. DeRosa is listed as day-to-day.

The Cubs tied the score against reliever Duaner Sanchez on Reed Johnson's RBI single and an error by left fielder Murphy that brought home a second run.

In the seventh, the Cubs took a 6-5 lead on Alfonso Soriano's RBI double off Brian Stokes.

The Mets tied the score in the eighth when Ramon Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk from Jeff Samardzija.

Before the game, the Mets activated right-hander John Maine from the disabled list.