TORONTO (AP) -- After losing nine of their previous 12 games and learning that third baseman Robin Ventura would be out for at least two weeks, the New York Mets were down.

A team meeting before the game, and a win Monday night could change things.

Mike Piazza hit a tiebreaking RBI grounder in the 11th inning as the Mets defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5.

"Guys were walking around with their head down, and it seemed like we were getting used to losing," said Lenny Harris, who had a season-high three hits replacing Ventura. "It was good that we had a meeting. (Manager) Bobby Valentine said a lot of things that made a lot of sense, and it touched some people in here."

The Mets, who avoided a third straight loss, held a meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes. Before that, they learned that Ventura was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised rotator cuff.

"Bobby said not to worry and don't give up," Harris said. "This team can't feel sorry because Robin is out."

Harris replaced Ventura at third for the Mets, who already are without Gold Glove shortstop Rey Ordonez for the remainder of the season with a broken arm.

Turk Wendell, one of five Mets relievers that held Toronto hitless over the final six innings, said the team will remain positive in Ventura's absence.

"Anytime you lose a Gold Glove fielder and a hitter of his caliber it's going to hurt, but we've got depth," he said.

After Toronto reliever Pedro Borbon (1-1) allowed a single to pinch-hitter Benny Agbayani and walks to Derek Bell and Edgardo Alfonzo, Piazza hit a grounder up the middle to second baseman Homer Bush, who threw to second for the force.

Todd Zeile followed with an RBI single to make it 7-5.

John Franco (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win. Armando Benitez worked the 11th for his 21st save in 25 chances.

"The Mets have a good pen," Toronto catcher Darrin Fletcher said. "I thought their pen did a great job last year during their run. They showed a lot of heart."

Down 5-4 in the eighth, the Mets tied it when Harris singled with two outs, stole second, and scored on Bell's RBI single.

Carlos Delgado hit his AL-leading 30th home run for the Blue Jays, who scored five runs on just five hits because New York starter Rick Reed walked a career-high five.

Reed, activated from the DL before the game, fractured his left wrist and strained his right calf June 30.

After Reed walked Shannon Stewart in the first, Bush hit a fielder's choice and scored on Delgado's homer.

McEwing hit his second homer of the year, a towering two-run shot in the second off Toronto starter Pasqual Coco, making his major league debut.

Fletcher hit a solo shot, his 11th homer, leading off the bottom half to put Toronto up 3-2.

After Reed walked two in the third, the Blue Jays scored twice on Alfonzo's throwing error and Fletcher's RBI single.

The Mets narrowed the lead to 5-3 in the fourth after Harris tripled and scored on Coco's wild pitch.

McEwing's RBI grounder in the fifth made it 5-4.

Reed gave up five runs -- four earned -- and five hits in five innings.

Game notes
Delgado became the second fastest in club history to reach 30 homers, in his 94th game. George Bell hit 30 in 93 games en route to a 47-homer season in 1987. ... Delgado's 129th career homer tied Jesse Barfield for third on the Blue Jays' career list. ... Toronto right-hander Joey Hamilton made his first rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. Hamilton, recovering from shoulder surgery, gave up four earned runs on 10 hits in five innings against the Durham Bulls. ... Attendance was 23,129. ... Coco gave up four runs on five hits and five walks in four-plus innings. ... The Mets met for less than 10 minutes before the game.