Delgado keeps cleaning up as Beltran takes 5

BY PETER BOTTE DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Carlos Delgado is officially back. In a more prestigious spot in the lineup, that is. Jerry Manuel rewarded Delgado for his July surge, moving him into the cleanup hole for Wednesday night's 6-3 win over Philadelphia - with Carlos Beltran dropped to fifth for the first time in more than five years. "I think he's probably one of our hottest hitters right now and I'd like to protect him as much as possible to make sure he continues to get some pitches," Manuel said of Delgado, who is batting .406 since July 1 with five homers and 14 RBI after reaching base four times Wednesday night. "It might give him another chance to get him an at-bat over the course of a nine-inning game." Delgado, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch Wednesday night, has batted cleanup two other times... [read full story]