NL: NY METS (66-52) at ATLANTA (63-56) <h3>Mets look to get back on track vs. rival Braves</h3> <div class="pre">NY Mets (73-60) at Atlanta (71-62) 7:35 pm EDT</div> ATLANTA (Ticker) - The New York Mets had a disastrous seriesagainst a division rival this week. With their lead shrinkingin the division, they will look to bounce back against anotherNational League East opponent. The Mets will face off with the rival Atlanta Braves in theopener of a three-game set at Turner Field on Friday night. It will be a huge series for first-place New York, whichsuffered a four-game sweep against the second-place PhiladelphiaPhillies, including an excruciating 11-10 loss in the seriesfinale on Thursday afternoon. After the Mets staged a five-run rally to take a two-run lead inthe eighth, New York closer Billy Wagner - who was called uponfor a rare six-out save - blew the advantage, allowing awalk-off single to Phillies second baseman Chase Utley in theninth. With the loss, the Mets now hold just a two-game lead over thePhillies (71-62) in the division. They also are just 4 1/2games ahead of the third-place Braves. New York will try to get back on track behind John Maine (13-8,3.68 ERA), who will be pitching on three days' rest. Therighthander lost his only career start against Atlanta, yieldingsix runs and seven hits while striking out four and walkingthree in 5 1/3 frames in a 7-6 loss on August 9. In his last start on Monday, Maine allowed six runs - threeearned - and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-2 loss to the LosAngeles Dodgers. He is 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in five starts thismonth. But Maine has pitched well away from home all season, posting an8-2 mark with a 3.42 ERA in 12 road outings this campaign. He will be opposed by Tim Hudson (15-6, 3.23), who is 2-0 with a1.93 ERA in two starts against the Mets this season. Heyielded three runs and nine hits while walking one and strikingout three in six frames on August 9 - his last outing againstNew York. Hudson will make an important start for the Braves, who havelost six of their last nine.
NL: NY METS (74-60) at ATLANTA (69-66) <h3>Braves turn to James to keep pace with Mets</h3> NY Mets (74-60) at Atlanta (69-66), 3:55 pm EDT ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves hoped they would becatching a division rival at the right time. Instead, they hopethey can pull out a victory on Saturday against the New YorkMets to stay in the National League East division race. The Mets had struggled entering their weekend series against theBraves, dropping seven of nine contests to see their leadshrink to 4 1/2 games over Atlanta in the NL East. However, Carlos Delgado homered and John Maine struck out eightto notch his 14th win in a 7-1 victory over the Braves in theseries opener to bump the Braves back to 5 1/2 games out offront-running Mets. In an attempt to make up that gap, Atlanta will turn to ChuckJames (9-9, 4.22 ERA), who makes his first start in over twoweeks. He will be returning from the disabled list afterrecovering from left shoulder soreness. The 25-year-old surrendered six runs and five hits over 3 2/3innings in a 9-3 loss to San Francisco on August 16. He willlook to improve on his 1-3 record with a 6.33 ERA in four careerstarts and two relief appearances against the Mets. Mike Pelfrey (0-7, 5.92), who has winless in his last 11 starts,will look to secure the Mets' first series win against theBraves this season. He has not won since picking up a winagainst the Reds on July 18, 2006. The righthander was solid but did not figure into the decisionin his last start on July 28 against Washington, allowing threeruns and eight hits over six innings in New York's 6-5 loss. Inhis only other career start against the Braves, Pelfrey allowedfour runs and six hits over five frames in a 7-3 setback onApril 20.
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS AT ATLANTA -- LINEUPS NY METS ATLANTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Jose Reyes SS .296 10 49 Willie Harris LF .293 1 25 Luis Castillo 2B .277 1 10 Kelly Johnson 2B .289 15 63 David Wright 3B .319 24 87 Chipper Jones 3B .329 22 79 Carlos Beltran CF .275 25 85 Mark Teixeira 1B .315 10 32 Moises Alou LF .312 9 31 Brian Mccann C .273 17 82 Carlos Delgado 1B .252 20 77 Jeff Francoeur RF .295 16 83 Paul Lo Duca C .267 5 33 Andruw Jones CF .224 24 84 Lastings Milledge RF .289 3 21 Chris Woodward SS .197 1 8 Mike Pelfrey RHP .077 0 0 Chuck James LHP .140 0 2 (0-7, 5.92) (9-9, 4.22)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA WARMUPS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY (0-7, 5.92) ATL - CHUCK JAMES (9-9, 4.22) UMPIRES: HP - JEFF KELLOGG 1B - ERIC COOPER 2B - ANDY FLETCHER 3B - MIKE REILLY WEATHER: 86 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 11 mph, left to right</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA STARTING BATS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY AND PAUL LO DUCA ATL - CHUCK JAMES AND BRIAN MCCANN DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.296, 10 HR, 49 RBI) L CASTILLO (.277, 1 HR, 10 RBI) D WRIGHT (.319, 24 HR, 87 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.293, 1 HR, 25 RBI) K JOHNSON (.289, 15 HR, 63 RBI) C JONES (.329, 22 HR, 79 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 K Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197 C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 0 -- 0 ATLANTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.92 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.19 Pitches-strikes: C James 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C James 1-1. Batters faced: C James 3. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 0 0 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR NY METS: C BELTRAN (.275, 25 HR, 85 RBI) M ALOU (.312, 9 HR, 31 RBI) C DELGADO (.252, 20 HR, 77 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (0) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Delgado 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197 C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 0 -- 0 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.80 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.19 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 15-7; C James 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 2-1; C James 1-1. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 3; C James 3. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL AT ATLANTA - SCORING UPDATE CARLOS DELGADO HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING CARLOS BELTRAN. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 1 ATLANTA 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR NY METS: P LO DUCA (.267, 5 HR, 33 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 1 1 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M TEIXEIRA (.315, 10 HR, 32 RBI) B MCCANN (.273, 17 HR, 82 RBI) J FRANCOEUR (.295, 16 HR, 83 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276 M Alou lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251 P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 7 1 2 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Delgado. Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315 B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197 C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Johnson-C Woodward-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 01 -- 1 ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.80 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 4.23 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 15-7; C James 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 2-1; C James 3-2. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 3; C James 7. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 1 1 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR NY METS: L MILLEDGE (.289, 3 HR, 21 RBI) M PELFREY (.077, 0 HR, 0 RBI) J REYES (.296, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276 M Alou lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251 P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 M Pelfrey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Totals 7 1 2 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Delgado. Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197 C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Johnson-C Woodward-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 01 -- 1 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.68 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 4.23 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 24-12; C James 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 5-1; C James 3-2. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 6; C James 7. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 1 0 1 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: A JONES (.224, 24 HR, 84 RBI) C WOODWARD (.197, 1 HR, 8 RBI) C JAMES (.140, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS ATLANTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276 M Alou lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251 P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 M Pelfrey p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .071 Totals 10 1 2 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Delgado. Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197 C James p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .140 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Johnson-C Woodward-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 010 -- 1 ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.68 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 4.20 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 24-12; C James 38-25. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 5-1; C James 4-4. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 6; C James 10. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 1 0 1 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR NY METS: L CASTILLO (.275, 0-FOR-1) D WRIGHT (.318, 0-FOR-1) C BELTRAN (.276, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS ATLANTA (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Reyes ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 D Wright 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .318 C Beltran cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276 M Alou lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251 P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 L Milledge rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 M Pelfrey p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .071 Totals 10 1 2 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Delgado. Team LOB - 0. ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Harris lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 M Teixeira 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 C Woodward ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 C James p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .136 Totals 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Johnson-C Woodward-M Teixeira). ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS - 010 -- 1 ATLANTA - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era M Pelfrey 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.57 ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era C James 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 4.20 Pitches-strikes: M Pelfrey 31-18; C James 38-25. Ground balls-fly balls: M Pelfrey 7-1; C James 4-4. Batters faced: M Pelfrey 9; C James 10. UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Kellogg. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly. Weather: 86 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: NY METS at ATLANTA <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - NY METS 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - MIKE PELFREY ATL - CHUCK JAMES DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: W HARRIS (.292, 0-FOR-1) K JOHNSON (.289, 0-FOR-1) C JONES (.329, 0-FOR-1)</div>
