Recap: NY Mets vs. Atlanta
Sports Network | September 13, 2008
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Jonathon Niese pitched eight shutout innings in his second career start, and the Mets tallied three home runs to top Atlanta, 5-0 in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium.
Niese (1-0) picked up his first career win by scattering six hits and two walks while fanning seven. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran each hit long balls for the Mets, who have won four of five and stand 2 1/2 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East lead.
Jo-Jo Reyes (3-11) was hit hard for four runs on five hits in his season-low two innings on the mound, extending his winless streak to 12 consecutive starts. Kelly Johnson, Casey Kotchman and Jeff Francoeur each had two hits for Atlanta, which had won four in a row.
In the day game, the Braves' three-run eighth inning, capped by Omar Infante's sacrifice fly, proved to be the difference in Atlanta's 3-2 win.
The Mets, however, doubled their output from the first game in the first two innings of the nightcap. Wright's two-run homer was followed later in the first by Fernando Tatis' RBI single to center, and Jose Reyes added a solo shot an inning later.
That was more than enough for the left-handed Niese, who only allowed one runner to reach third base. Francoeur followed Kotchman's two-out single with a double in the fourth inning, but Brent Lillibridge went down looking to end the Braves' only threat.
Beltran added his 24th homer of the year -- a solo shot to left -- in the seventh off Jeff Ridgway, and Luis Ayala preserved the shutout with a scoreless ninth.
Atlanta's Jorge Campillo (7-7) and the Mets' Oliver Perez (10-7) are the probable starters for the three-game series finale on Sunday...Niese made his major league debut on September 2 at Milwaukee and gave up five runs and seven hits in three innings...Beltran extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Jose Reyes' previous home run was August 16...Atlanta leads the season series 8-6..Jose Reyes, Beltran and Tatis each finished with three hits.
