ATLANTA– If there was a ever a time for a much-needed victory, this was it for the Mets with the entire brass coming to Atlanta for a meeting. Although Mets CEO Jeff Wilpon played off questions regarding Jerry Manuel’s job status before the game, there was no question that the pressure was on the manager to get some fast wins.
So the Mets sent out Mike Pelfrey on a five-game losing streak, attempting to calm things down for at least one night. It wasn’t as if the Mets’ offense woke up to score a whole ton of runs, but they got a solid performance out of Pelfrey, who went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and that was just enough.
The Mets scored two runs in the second inning on a Rod Barajas double. Pelfrey gave up a run in the fifth inning on a lead off home run by the scorching-hot Eric Hinske. They would get the run back in the next half inning on an RBI groundout by Chris Carter, who for the second consecutive game was playing right field and batting cleanup.
The Braves would respond with a run of their own in the home half of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Chipper Jones, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Pelfrey got into a little bit of trouble in the eighth as he left the game with a man on second and two outs. Pedro Feliciano came in and allowed an infield single to Jason Heyward and walked the bases loaded with Chipper Jones. He got out of the major jam with a strikeout of Braves catcher Brian McCann.
In the Braves ninth, after Francisco Rodriguez walked a batter, he got Nate McLouth to strikeout to end the game and the Mets’ five-game losing streak.
It was a game that featured great pitching by a couple of sinkerballers. Both Mike Pelfrey and Braves’ Derek Lowe combined for five double-play groundouts. Lowe, who for a rare time didn’t get any run support, went seven innings, allowing three runs on four hits, he walked and struck out three while hitting a batter.
For the Mets, it was perhaps their biggest win of the season, considering the situation they were in. They will now go for a two-game sweep of the Braves tomorrow night with ace Johan Santana on the mound.
Series probable pitchers:
May 18
New York: Johan Santana (2010: 3-2, 3.88 ERA) vs. Atlanta: Kris Medlen (2010: 1-1, 2.35 ERA)
Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 18 @ Atlanta Braves
May 19-20 @ Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves:
May 18 vs. New York Mets
May 19-20 vs. Cincinnati Reds
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