Braves-Mets: Atlanta Breaks Out The Brooms

In case you were in a coma since Monday night, you missed an exciting series between the Mets and the Braves at Turner Field.  I'll break down each game and the positives and negatives for each team.

Game 1 - Braves win 6-1

The key to this game was the Mets' inability to knock a few in against Glavine in the first inning.  So often we hear about good pitchers who run into trouble early in ballgames, but they get out of it and enter a zone for the rest of the game.  This was no different.

Glavine retired 17 Mets in a row at one point.  The Mets did a poor job of carrying momentum over from their previous series, although the day off makes that task more difficult.

A positive for the Braves was the patience of their hitters.  When Aaron Heilman came into the game, the first four batters he faced all lasted more than five pitches each.  McCann got to Heilman with a two run bomb to center that sealed the win for Atlanta on a 10-pitch at-bat.

Game 2 - Braves win 6-2

The Braves waiver-wire pickup, Jorge Campillo, made a successful debut in the rotation by shutting out the Mets over six innings.  Campillo, who had pitched well in the Atlanta bullpen, had excellent control and struck out seven Mets while only surrendering three hits.

A couple of clutch hits with runners on base provided most of the offense for the Braves.  Once again, the patience of the Braves lineup helped knock out Claudio Vargas.

Willie Randolph's choice of using Matt Wise (who had already pitched in the first game of the doubleheader) late in the game was not smart, as Wise gave up a two-run home run that provided insurance the Braves desperately needed.

Things did not get any better as Ryan Church, the hottest hitter in the Mets lineup, was injured on a slide into second base with Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar.

Basically, the Mets could not solve Jorge Campillo.  Most of the Met hits were in the later innings and they were not enough to spark a rally.

Game 3 - Braves win 11-4

Mike Pelfrey had solid movement on his pitches, but his inability to strike out Braves hitters at key times led to his departure early in the ball game.  He threw 104 pitches in only four-plus innings.  The bullpen was not strong either, giving up five runs in the other four innings.

Mets fans should be encouraged by an excellent game from Reyes, who had a couple hits to go along with two stolen bases.  The Mets' hitting showed much more life than the day before, but their pitching and defense let them down.

The Braves were led by the solid pitching of Jair Jurrjens, who continues to earn the nickname "Houdini" by pitching out of trouble.  When the Mets had a runner on third base with only one out, Jurrjens struck out Luis Castillo to help escape a jam.

Two-out RBI were imporant for the Braves, as they racked up seven of them.  Those hits can really create frustration within the opposing dugout, and Pelfrey showed his frustration by slamming his glove against the wall after the third inning.

Game 4 - Braves win 4-2

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