Mets Storm Back to Beat Braves

METS 7

BRAVES 3

How about them Mets? eh? Even when the get the news that their closer, Billy Wagner, is likely out for the remainder of the season, and when their starter, Oliver Perez is once again erratic in a big game, the Mets found a way to beat the Braves 7-3 at Shea Stadium in Queens N.Y.

The Braves were a pathetic 0-19 on the road in one run games, and they were able to grab a 3-2 lead in the third inning and maintain it until the eighth inning. These are the types of games that the Mets would find a way to lose, because they are..the Mets!

The Braves chipped away when Chipper Jones singled to center to bring home Gregor Blanco to cut the Met lead to 2-1. Later, Brian McCann grounded out into an RBI, as Yunel Escobar was able to score from third, when the bases were loaded. Finally, Jeff Francoeur hit a sac. fly to right center to drive home Jones to give Atlanta the lead.

Perez just didn't have it. His command was off all night long, as he walked five and gave up three runs in just six and a third innings of work. He even got into trouble in the seventh, when he gave up a tripple to Escobar, and walked Chipper Jones. New Met Luis Ayala came in and was able to get Omar Infante to pop out to second and McCann to fly out to center.

Then, in the eighth, the Mets got hot. Nick Evans walked, and was substited for Endy Chavez as a pinch-runner. Later, David Wright walked, and Carlos Beltran singled to load them up. Will Ohman came into relieve and his presence didn't make a difference, at least for Atlanta that is.

Carlos Delgado took one of Ohman's pitches and launched it to right center and barely missed a grand slam as the ball caromed off the wall, allowing Chavez and Wright to score to give New York a 4-3 lead. Next, Damion Easly singled up the middle to drive home Beltran, and Ramon Castron, then, doubled to left to drive home Fernando Tatis and Easley to make it 7-3 Mets. A stirring comeback that the Mets badly needed.

New York is now 69-57 and maintains their one and a half game lead on the Phillies, who beat the Washington Nationals tonight by a score of 5-4.