Mets Tomahawk Braves: Series Recap

The artist formerly known as the Braves came to Shea for a three-game set. They're really just a shadow of their past selves. The Mets started the series with a one-and-a-half-game lead over the Phils (and no idea who their closer would be), and with the sweep completed, they'll start their weekend series against Houston with a two-and-a-half-game bulge in the standings. Here's what happened against the Braves. Tuesday, Mets 7-3: Bullpen Meltdown (But in a Good Way) Scoring runs in the late innings? Getting hits with the bases loaded? The bullpen pitching 2.1 scoreless innings? It was the bizarro world Mets where everything opposite happened. This time it was the other team with the bullpen blowup and not able to score runs late. The Mets plated their usual two runs in the first inning, and it was looking like that was it for the game. But the offense busted out for five runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by Carlos Delgado's bases-loaded double and a Damion Easley two-run single. In all, seven straight batters reached base. Oliver Perez struggled through 6.1 innings but didn't implode, keeping the Mets in the game. It looks like he's learning to pitch when he doesn't have his best stuff. Damage control is a new talent he seems to be learning, so that's a good sign. A pivotal moment in the game came in the seventh when Luis Ayala made his Mets debut. With runners on first and third and one out, his first pitch as a Met was some chin music to Omar Infante. Yes! He got the two batters he faced to pop up and fly out to get out of the jam. Welcome to the Mets; they're going to need you. Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis followed Ayala with two scoreless innings to wrap up the game. Wednesday, Mets 6-3: Pelfrey Pleases Mother, Pitches Complete Game "Mike could never finish anything. He always ran out to play before he would finish his homework. He could never finish his dinner because he wouldn't eat his vegetables. And even in the major leagues he would let the bullpen finish the game so he could scamper into the locker room and watch cartoons. I'm proud of him," beamed Mike Pelfrey's mother, after her son pitched the first complete game of his career. Bullpen? Who needs a bullpen? The transformation of Pelfrey is astounding. He leads the team in wins with 12, and is tied with A.J. Burnett for the most wins in the majors since June 16th, with 10. He's starting to look like an ace (and so are Johan Santana and Oliver Perez for that matter). The 24-year-old righty only gave up three hits, struck out three and walked three. He loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth, but used his sinker to get a double play and avoided a big inning. He cruised through the last three innings to finish the game. In all, he threw 108 pitches. The offense made things easier for Pelfrey when they threw five runs up on the scoreboard in the first inning. Their former nemesis?loading the bases?was once again their friend. Daniel Murphy came through (again) with a two-out, two-run single with the sacks juiced. They piled up three more runs in the inning, and David Wright hit a moon shot into the left field bleachers in the fifth. Thursday, Mets 5-4: Walk-Off Win Completes Sweep The formerly washed-up Carlos Delgado went five for five, with three RBIs, including the game-winning run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth. It was his first five hit game in 10 years. Four of his hits came off of lefties. David Wright was spectacular in the field, and at the plate went three for four with a home run and two doubles, and dove across home plate with the winning run. His counterpart at third for the Braves, Larry Jones, on the other hand, had an awful series, committing three errors in the last two games. The first pitch Pedro Martinez threw ended up in the left field bleachers. But from that moment on he threw an effective seven innings, only getting into trouble in the sixth when he gave up three runs. He struck out six and walked only one. Mike Hampton (the Carl Pavano of the National League) toed the rubber for Atlanta. It was finally revealled that all his elbow problems can be traced back to a night in Colorado, when he heard something pop while reaching for a pastry at a PTA meeting. Pedro Feliciano and Luis Ayala pitched two scoreless innings, and Ayala notched his first win as a Met.