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In a bittersweet farewell to Shea Stadium, Mets fans chanted and cheered for players from the past, while pushing aside the failure of the 2008 season.

The Mets watched their lead over Philadelphia in the National League East shrink to two games with 21 remaining, including two more against the Phillies.

Ryan Church hit a grand slam and Brian Schneider added a homer in a six-run first inning that provided all the offense the Mets needed to beat the Milwaukee Brewers.

Friday’s victory — the Mets’ fourth in succession and 10th in 11 games — featured the return from the disabled list of Ryan Church, who was with the Nationals last season.

The jolting bulletin that came out of Manager Jerry Manuel’s pregame news conference was that second baseman Luis Castillo would start Saturday.

Ryan Church, on the disabled list with postconcussion symptoms, could be back in right field Friday when the Mets open a series with the Houston Astros.

The status of Ryan Church, on the disabled list since July 6 with postconcussion syndrome, remained murky on the first day he was eligible to be activated.

After aggravating a right groin injury last week, Pedro Martínez will miss his scheduled start here against the Reds on Sunday.

Ryan Church said Saturday that he could rejoin the Mets soon after he is eligible to be reinstated from the disabled list July 21.

The Mets’ right fielder complained of exhaustion and a feeling he described as his brain “swishing around a little bit,” symptoms the team did not link to a recent concussion.