The visiting Atlanta Braves took advantage of the few opportunities they had, scoring 3 runs in a contest that featured only 10 hits, helping them defeat a depleted NY Mets team 3-1 Tuesday night at Citi-Field. The Braves have won 6 straight road contests and 10 of 12 overall, while NY has lost 8 0f 10. The Mets have now dropped 7 straight to Atlanta,“We lose seven straight to anybody, it stings,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “They have for the most part dominated us. You have to give them credit, but they have kept most of their players on the field for the most part.”
Braves starter Jair Jurrjens(13-10,2.70) was great and out pitched Mets veteran starter Nelson Figueroa(2-7,4.88), who allowed only 2 hits while throwing a career high 126 pitches. “It’s my fault for not finishing the deal. I got two out and didn’t get the third until it was too late,” Figueroa said. “The pitch count doesn’t matter. I’m not a young prospect. You go with the tempo of the game. It wouldn’t have mattered to me if I went out there for another inning.”
Braves SS Yunel Escobar, one of the more underrated players in the NL, had the big hit of the game in the 4th, a two run, two out single that scored 2B Martin Prado and 3B Chipper Jones. Jurrjens really settled down and attacked after allowing the game’s first run in the 3rd. He allowed only 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. The Braves scored a huge insurance run in the 9th when Escobar doubled off Mets closer Francisco Rodriquez(3-5,3.15,33 saves) to lead off the inning. 1B Adam Laroche singled him in and it was 3-1.
Star of the Game: Jurrjens- Has allowed only two earned runs over his last 3 starts, covering 22 innings. The righty is now 6-1 in 8 career starts vs. the Mets including 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in 5 starts in 2009.
Mets starting Line-up:
1- LF Angel Pagan
2- 2B Luis Castillo
3- 3B David Wright
4- CF Carlos Beltran
5- 1B Daniel Murphy
6- RF Jeff Francoeur
7- C Brian Schneider
8- SS Wilson Valdez
9- Pitcher
Game Notes: Veteran Mets OF Gary Sheffield wants to play in 2010 and aims to dress for 150 games. He named the Mets, Marlins and Rays as possible desinations, a 4th mystery team was also in the report by Kevin Kernan in the Tuesday NY Post….Mets INF Alex Cora, who had the same surgery on his right thumb 5 weeks ago, underwent surgery on a torn ligament in his left thumb. The popular utility man is out for the season… To celebrate Hispanic Heritage night, the Mets wore Los Mets jerseys… 2B Luis Castillo drove in the lone Mets run in the 3rd with a single that scored SS Anderson Hernandez… Escober and Prado had 2 hits to pace Atlanta while Castillo and C Brian Schneider did the same for NY…. Outstanding job by the back end of the Braves pen with RH Peter Moylan(6-2,2.81,23 holds) tossing a clean 8th and fireballing closer Rafael Soriano(3.12) striking out the side in the 9th for this 25th save… Braves all star C Brian McCann left in the 4th with a wrist injury. This appeared to be serious but X rays were negative and he is day to day
Next Game:
Wednesday, series finale vs Braves at Citi-Field
7:10
Mets RH Mike Pelfrey( 10-11,5.11) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson(1-1,3.70)
