Recap: Atlanta vs. NY Mets
Sports Network | September 21, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Martin Prado drove in three runs and helped key a four-run eighth inning comeback, as the Atlanta Braves upended the New York Mets, 7-6, in the rubber match of a three-game series from Turner Field.
Prado was 3-for-4 and Jeff Francoeur doubled twice and tripled, while scoring two runs for Atlanta, which finished 8-1 against New York at home this season. Jorge Julio (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and got the win while Mike Gonzalez got his 13th save in a rocky ninth.
Carlos Delgado and David Wright both homered, while Delgado knocked in three with four hits overall. Wright scored three times and drove in two for New York, which dropped a full game back of first-place Philadelphia in the NL East. The Mets have now dropped five of their last eight games and saw their lead in the wild card standings shrink to 1 1/2 games over Milwaukee. The Brewers were 8-1 winners against the Reds on Sunday, while the Phillies are facing the Marlins in Florida.
Things don't get easier for the Mets after their road finale Sunday. New York will play its final seven games at home, but that includes four against the NL Central-champion Chicago Cubs.
Atlanta stormed ahead with four runs in the eighth. Scott Schoeneweis (2-5) gave up a one-out double to Omar Infante, who scored on a Casey Kotchman single to right. Mets reliever Joe Smith entered the game and Francoeur tripled to deep center to plate another run. New York made another pitching change as Pedro Feliciano came on to get out number two but then intentionally walked Greg Norton. Aaron Heilman was then called in to face pinch-hitter Chipper Jones, who was walked to load the bases. That proved costly as Prado roped a two-run double to right for a 7-4 lead.
Gonzalez came on to close out the game in the ninth and got Daniel Murphy on strikes to start, but Wright drew a walk and Delgado crushed his 37th home run of the season out to right, making it a 7-6 game. Gonzalez battled back, though, and got Carlos Beltran on strikes and pinch-hitter Damion Easley went down swinging to end the game.
"There's nothing more to say. No excuses. Just win," Schoeneweis said. "We score 10 and we give up nine in the bullpen, we win the game, but we didn't win the game. There's no time to be weary, no time for anything. I'll do whatever I can."
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey was charged with three runs on six hits and three walks over six-plus frames while Atlanta's James Parr was blasted for four hits and four runs while walking four in just 1 2/3 innings. Parr was making his fourth career start.
"You know, it was a good series. We were playing really good baseball there for the last few weeks," Prado said. "All of us are sad to see the season go. We're still playing hard and winning whenever we can."
The Mets jumped on Parr for two runs in the first. Wright worked a two-out walk and came home when Delgado followed with a double to right. Beltran beat out an infield single up the third base line and Ryan Church walked to load the bases. Parr then walked Luis Castillo to force in a run before retiring Brian Schneider on a fly ball to escape any further damage.
Atlanta got one back in the home half when Prado and Kelly Johnson hit back- to-back singles and Brian McCann walked to load the bases with one down. Infante brought in a run when he was hit by a Pelfrey offering but the Bravos failed to move any closer when Kotchman grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Wright made it a 4-1 game one inning later with his 32nd home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center. Delgado followed with a single to end Parr's afternoon and Buddy Carlyle got the final out of the inning. Atlanta got another run back in the home half when pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay's RBI single to left scored Francoeur, who doubled leading off.
Things settled down from there as a host of Braves relievers kept New York off the scoreboard for five innings and Pelfrey cruised until the seventh. Gregor Blanco drew a leadoff walk to end Pelfrey's day and Brian Stokes took the hill. Norton moved the runner with a single and a sacrifice put both runners in scoring position for Prado, who made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly. Ricardo Rincon came on to record the final out.
Atlanta captured the season series 11-7...Johnson extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games with a single in the first inning...Delgado's double in the first was his 2,000th career hit...Atlanta used six relievers in the game while New York used four just to pitch the eighth.
