Mets Game 136: Win Over Braves

Mets 3 Braves 2

How sweep it is !

After getting schooled by the Phillies, the Mets at least took something with them from Philadelphia — How to Sweep 101.

Tom Glavine pitched six innings, allowing only one run on five hits and three walks. He probably could have gone at least one more frame, but manager Willie Randolph pulled him after allowing a leadoff single to Kelly Johnson on his 100th pitch of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Glavine was clearly irritated with being taken out — nice to see, in my opinion. For once he wanted the fate of the victory in his hands and not the bullpen. (And can you blame him? He’d probably be a Cy Young candidate if not for ‘pen blowing several of his leads.)

Glavine struggled a bit in the first, loading the bases with one out, but wiggled out of it allowing only one run. That proved to be vital, looking at the final score.

Not one to escape from his offensive responsibility, Glavine tied up the game a few minutes later, driving a fly ball to center that scored Moises Alou. The game remained tied until the fifth, when Jose Reyes reached first on a popup that Yunel Escobar lost in the sun, and was driven in by a David Wright blast over the centerfield wall. That was one of the only mistakes Atlanta starter John Smoltz made all day, but it was the most damaging.

Jorge Sosa and Aaron Heilman each tossed scoreless innings, bridging the gap to Billy Wagner, who despite allowing a run, eventually closed things out to earn his 30th save.

Notes

Kind of sad to hear a louder ovation from the Atlanta crowd when Julio Franco stepped in to pinch-hit, than when Tommy Glavine left the mound for what could turn out to be the last time he ever appears as a pitcher in Atlanta. Maybe Tommy shouldn’t be kissing the butts of the Braves and their fans every chance he gets.

Wright and Alou had two hits apiece, the only Mets with more than one hit. Carlos Beltran smacked a double and also walked.

The Phillies lost in extra innings to the Marlins, dropping them back to four games again and sending the Mets’ magic number to 23. Time is running out for the phightin’ Phillthies … and with the Braves seven games behind, it’s time for Bobby Cox to start auditioning youngsters for 2008 — though it would be nice if they could take a few from Philly this week upcoming.

Next Game

The Mets go to Cincinnati for a three-game series to end their road trip. Pedro Martinez makes his 2007 debut against Aaron Harang in a 1:15 PM start.