St.

By RONALD BLUM NEW YORK - The New York Mets quickly lost left fielder Cliff Floyd because of his injured left Achilles' tendon and were tied with the St. Louis Cardinals 0-0 after five innings of the NL championship series opener Thursday night.

NEW YORK - The National League Championship Series begins tonight in New York with the St. Louis Cardinals taking on the Mets. Cliff Floyd remained on the Mets' roster despite a strained left Achilles' tendon.

The party had begun, and no one seemed to want it to end: not the players, not the fans. For the first time since 1988, the New York Mets are champions of the NL East.

They soaked themselves in wine and beer, then ran out of their clubhouse to go back on the field, jump up and down some more and share the glee with their fans.