Recap: Atlanta vs. NY Mets
Sports Network | September 20, 2008
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Josh Anderson went 3-for-4, knocked in a run, scored and stole two bases, and the Atlanta Braves hung on for a 4-2 win over the New York Mets in the second of a three-game set.
With the loss the Mets, who reclaimed first place in the NL East with a win over the Braves Friday in the series opener, fell into a temporary tie with the Philadelphia Phillies, who played at Florida on Saturday night.
Jorge Campillo (8-7) held the Mets to two runs on five hits in six innings, with two strikeouts and two walks to get the win for the Braves, who stemmed a four-game losing streak.
Pedro Martinez (5-6) gave up four runs on nine hits in six frames, with seven strikeouts and three walks, to take the loss. Martinez's two-run double was the lone offense for the Mets, who had won three straight to re-take the top spot in the division.
The Braves got to Martinez for three first-inning runs. Anderson singled and stole second, Martin Prado walked, and Kelly Johnson doubled to right, plating Anderson. Brian McCann's groundout scored Prado, and Casey Kotchman laced a two-out RBI single to center for an early 3-0 Atlanta lead.
Martinez settled down after the rough first inning, and Mets manager Jerry Manuel left him in the game when his lineup spot came up with two outs and runners at first and second in the fifth. Martinez made a genius of Manuel by ripping a high fastball into the gap in right-center, and the two-run double cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Mets offense struggled for life after their pitcher helped them out, though. David Wright doubled with one out in the sixth, but Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran both grounded out, stranding Wright.
Anderson's two-out RBI single to right in the sixth added an insurance run for Atlanta, which took a 4-2 lead.
Braves relievers Will Ohman, Jeff Bennett, and Mike Gonzalez nailed down the win. Gonzalez struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 12th save of the season.
Martinez's double was the sixth of his career, and his first this season. He threw a season-high 116 pitches...Chipper Jones sat with right shoulder inflammation. Prado played third base in his absence...The win was Campillo's first since August 8 at Arizona. He was 0-3 with four no-decisions between August 8 and Saturday...Johnson went 1-for-4, extending his career-high hitting streak to 18 games.
