MLB Notebook | Ace Johan Santana keeps the Mets in the NL wild card race

NEW YORK — Any chance Johan Santana can pitch on no days' rest?

Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Mets brought back their ace early and he delivered, pitching a three-hitter that led them over the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a rainy Saturday.

Nearly two hours later, the Mets pulled into a tie with Milwaukee for the NL wild card when the Brewers lost 7-3 to the Chicago Cubs.

"I just went out there and tried to finish it. I didn't do anything crazy," Santana said. "I knew the situation we were in."

With the crowd standing and chanting his name, Santana (16-7) assured the Mets will play at least one more meaningful game at Shea Stadium. The win was just the third in eight games for New York and put aside — for a day, anyway — thoughts of another huge collapse.

"What's the headline going to be tomorrow?" wondered Marlins rookie John Baker, who went 0 for 4 and struck out twice. "Is he the 'Shea-vior?' "

Now, it's up to Oliver Perez to try to help save the Mets' season Sunday. No chance of seeing Santana in that one.

"How many did he pitch? How many did he throw?" manager Jerry Manuel said with a grin. "Wow, wow, wow, wow. I think if I had to describe that one, I would say that was gangsta. That was real gangsta."

If the Mets and Brewers remain even after Sunday, they would play a one-game tiebreaker Monday in New York. Milwaukee is scheduled to send ace CC Sabathia to the mound Sunday against the Cubs.

"We're still in the race. It's not over yet," Santana said.

Notes

• Saturday's game between Boston and the New York Yankees was rained out and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader today.

• The San Francisco Giants activated infielder Kevin Frandsen from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday after he spent the entire season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that required surgery.

• The Chicago Cubs won't start Carlos Zambrano in their regular-season finale today against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Instead, it will be Angel Guzman, a Sept. 1 call-up who has appeared in only five games. Zambrano was expected to pitch a couple of innings as a playoff tuneup, but the Cubs changed their minds and now Milwaukee won't have to face one of the top pitchers in the National League.

• Right-hander Derek Lowe will start Game 1 of the NL division series for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lowe will be followed by righty and 16-game winner Chad Billingsley in Game 2 and then right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who has a 9-10 record.