NL: ATLANTA (60-53) at NY METS (63-49) <h3>Hernandez aims to help Mets hold off Braves</h3> <div class="pre">Atlanta (60-53) at NY Mets (63-49) 7:10 pm EDT</div> FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets still hold alead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, but itwon't last long based on their recent play against theirdivision rival. The Mets hope to turn around their problems against the Bravesin the middle game of a three-game series on Wednesday. Due in part to their 3-7 record against Atlanta, New York'snearly season-long lead in the NL East has been sliced down to 31/2 games. The Mets dropped Tuesday's series opener, 7-3, asJeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer and finished a triple shyof the cycle for the Braves. New York will look to Orlando Hernandez (7-4, 3.00 ERA) toprovide them some cushion in the division. The 37-year-old righthander has been pitching well, having wonthree of his last four starts. On Friday, Hernandez allowed tworuns and five hits in 6 2/3 innings but did not figure in thedecision of a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Hernandez will be opposed by John Smoltz (10-6, 3.04), who hasjust one win in his last five starts. The 40-year-old waspounded by the Colorado Rockies on Friday, giving up seven runs- five earned - and a season high-tying nine hits in 6 2/3innings of a 9-2 loss. Andruw Jones returned to the lineup on Tuesday for Atlanta,which banged out 15 hits in the opener. He had missed theprevious two games with a sore shoulder.
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA AT NY METS -- LINEUPS ATLANTA NY METS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Willie Harris LF .328 1 24 Jose Reyes SS .303 8 46 Kelly Johnson 2B .297 12 57 Luis Castillo 2B .310 0 0 Chipper Jones 3B .338 18 58 David Wright 3B .301 19 67 Mark Teixeira 1B .231 3 8 Carlos Delgado 1B .254 17 64 Brian Mccann C .267 12 65 Moises Alou LF .301 4 17 Jeff Francoeur RF .310 13 75 Shawn Green RF .269 8 32 Andruw Jones CF .217 21 72 Paul Lo Duca C .266 5 32 Yunel Escobar SS .333 1 17 Lastings Milledge CF .306 3 16 John Smoltz RHP .114 0 2 Orlando Hernandez RHP .184 0 3 (10-6, 3.04) (7-4, 3.00)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS WARMUPS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (10-6, 3.04) NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ (7-4, 3.00) UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO 1B - JERRY MEALS 2B - BRUCE DRECKMAN 3B - GARY DARLING WEATHER: 93 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 17 mph, out to center</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS STARTING BATS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ AND PAUL LO DUCA DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.328, 1 HR, 24 RBI) K JOHNSON (.297, 12 HR, 57 RBI) C JONES (.338, 18 HR, 58 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 NY METS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.303, 8 HR, 46 RBI) L CASTILLO (.310, 0 HR, 0 RBI) D WRIGHT (.301, 19 HR, 67 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .326 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .114 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 L Milledge cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 O Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 NY METS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.04 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.97 Pitches-strikes: O Hernandez 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: O Hernandez 1-0. Batters faced: O Hernandez 3. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL AT NY METS - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY DAVID WRIGHT SCORED JOSE REYES. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0 NY METS 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR NY METS: C DELGADO (.254, 17 HR, 64 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M TEIXEIRA (.231, 3 HR, 8 RBI) B MCCANN (.267, 12 HR, 65 RBI) J FRANCOEUR (.310, 13 HR, 75 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .326 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .114 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .301 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 L Milledge cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 O Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184 Totals 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 NY METS - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 3.08 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.97 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 17-14; O Hernandez 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-1; O Hernandez 1-0. Batters faced: J Smoltz 4; O Hernandez 3. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 1 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.301, 4 HR, 17 RBI) S GREEN (.269, 8 HR, 32 RBI) P LO DUCA (.266, 5 HR, 32 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .326 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .114 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .301 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 L Milledge cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 O Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184 Totals 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 NY METS - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3.01 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.95 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 17-14; O Hernandez 25-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-1; O Hernandez 2-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 4; O Hernandez 6. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.217, 21 HR, 72 RBI) Y ESCOBAR (.333, 1 HR, 17 RBI) J SMOLTZ (.114, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .326 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .114 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .301 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 P Lo Duca c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302 O Hernandez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .179 Totals 7 1 3 1 0 1 4 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - O Hernandez 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 NY METS - 10 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 2.99 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.95 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 37-27; O Hernandez 25-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-3; O Hernandez 2-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 9; O Hernandez 6. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 0 1 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.304, 1-FOR-1) L CASTILLO (.310, 0-FOR-0, SAC) D WRIGHT (.301, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .325 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .114 Totals 9 0 0 0 1 4 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 D Wright 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .301 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 P Lo Duca c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302 O Hernandez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .179 Totals 7 1 3 1 0 1 4 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - O Hernandez 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 000 -- 0 NY METS - 10 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 2.99 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 4 0 2.92 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 37-27; O Hernandez 38-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 2-3; O Hernandez 4-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 9; O Hernandez 10. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 0 0 1 4 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: K JOHNSON (.296, 0-FOR-1) C JONES (.337, 0-FOR-1) M TEIXEIRA (.222, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .325 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .222 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .114 Totals 9 0 0 0 1 4 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .306 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 .301 C Delgado 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 P Lo Duca c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302 O Hernandez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .179 Totals 11 1 4 1 0 2 6 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1, O Hernandez 1. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (54, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 000 -- 0 NY METS - 100 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 4 1 0 0 2 0 2.97 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 4 0 2.92 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 56-39; O Hernandez 38-23. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 3-4; O Hernandez 4-1. Batters faced: J Smoltz 13; O Hernandez 10. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 NY METS 1 0 0 1 4 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ NYM - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.299, 0-FOR-1) S GREEN (.271, 1-FOR-1) P LO DUCA (.269, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at NY METS <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS NY METS (1) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .325 K Johnson 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296 C Jones 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336 M Teixeira 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .331 J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .114 Totals 12 0 0 0 1 4 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (2, throw). NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .306 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 .301 C Delgado 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 M Alou lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 S Green rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .271 P Lo Duca c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269 L Milledge cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .302 O Hernandez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .179 Totals 11 1 4 1 0 2 6 BATTING: S - L Castillo. SF - D Wright. RBI - D Wright (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1, O Hernandez 1. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - J Reyes (54, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 000 0 -- 0 NY METS - 100 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Smoltz 3 4 1 0 0 2 0 2.97 NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era O Hernandez 4 0 0 0 1 4 0 2.90 Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 56-39; O Hernandez 51-31. Ground balls-fly balls: J Smoltz 3-4; O Hernandez 4-4. Batters faced: J Smoltz 13; O Hernandez 13. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Jerry Meals. 2B--Bruce Dreckman. 3B--Gary Darling. Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>
