On the Mets beat

Good evening Mets enthusiasts, Chris Mascaro here to bring you all of tonight's live game action, the first-place Metropolitans (70-57) look for a three-game sweep of the Braves (56-71).

For the Mets, who have gone 12-4 since getting swept in Houston at the beginning of month, it would be their fifth three-game sweep of the season. However, they are just 4-7 against Atlanta this season.

Last night, the Mets got off to a fast start and Mike Pelfrey did the rest, throwing a complete-game three-hitter for his team-leading 12th win of the season.

Tonight Jerry Manuel hands the ball to Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.96 ERA), who has been very good in August despite a 1-1 record in the month. His last time out, Pedro averted disaster against the Pirates, as he allowed eight hits over seven innings, but just one run. (He also singled and scored a run.)

Old friend Mike Hampton (2-1, 6.92) takes the hill for the Braves. Hampton spent one productive season in a Mets jersey in the team's World Series year, but then bolted to Colorado for big bucks in the offseason (he cited the city's school system as one of the main reasons why he left). He had two terrible seasons there before heading to Atlanta, where he prospered in 2003 and 2004 before elbow injuries set in, forcing him to miss all of the last two seasons.

Hampton's win on Saturday over the Giants — in which he pitched six innings of two-run ball — was his first victory in Atlanta since August 14, 2005. Both of his wins this season have come against San Francisco.

The two Mets with the most experience against Hampton are Luis Castillo and Moises Alou. Both obviously are not in tonight's lineup. But many who will be in the lineup have solid numbers against the southpaw, with David Wright and Damion Easley being the notable exceptions. Wright is batting .351 in his last 14 games, though.

Mets beat writer David Lennon gave you the Mets lineup earlier (he also has an update on Ryan Church). Now here are the starting nine for Atlanta:

1. Escobar, SS
2. Kotsay, CF
3. Jones, 3B
4. McCann, C
5. Infante, LF
6. Johnson, 2B
7. Francoeur, RF
8. Prado, 1B
9. Hampton, P (a career .244 hitter with 15 homers)

Okay, well that's all for now. Be sure to keep your comments coming in the chat box below and vote on the poll questions! We'll be back with updates after every half inning.

We're about 15 minutes from baseball on SNY!

Top of the 1st: Yunel Escobar hit Pedro's first pitch of the game out of the park to give the Braves an early 1-0 lead. It was the seventh homer of the season for Escobar and the second time this season Martinez has given up a homer on his first pitch of the game (San Diego's Jody Gerut also did it).

Kotsay and Chipper Jones grounded out, and McCann lined out to Delgado to end the inning.

Bottom of the 1st: Reyes singled to center for his first hit in nine at bats. Nick Evans, in a bid for his first career homer, lifted a ball to the left-field warning track for the first out.

David Wright walked, but Beltran grounded into a 5-4 fielder's choice for the second out. Delgado picked up the team with a two-out single up the middle to score Reyes and tie the game at 1.

Tatis grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Top of the 2nd: Omar Infante struck out swinging for the first out before Kelly Johnson singled to center. Francoeur flied out, and with Prado batting, Johnson was thrown out by Castro trying to steal second.

Castro has thrown out five of 17 would-be base stealers this season (29.4%).

Bottom of the 2nd: Easley singled to center to lead off the inning (bad numbers against Hampton be damned! [see above for explanation]). Castro flied to right in front of Pedro, who bunted Easley over to second. But Reyes grounded to short to end the inning.

Hampton has thrown 40 pitches thus far.

Top of the 3rd: A 1-2-3 inning for Pedro, as Prado grounded to short, Hampton struck out (Pedro's second strikeout tonight) and Escobar grounded to third (nice stop by Wright).

Pedro has 38 pitches through three innings.

Bottom of the 3rd: Evans struck out looking on a questionable 3-and-2 pitch (he started jogging towards first). Wright ripped a double down the left-field line (his 35th of the season), and moved to third on Beltran's groundout.

He scored on Delgado's second hit tonight with two outs and runners in scoring position to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. Tatis also singled, but Easley grounded to second to end the rally.

Delgado has 83 RBIs on the season.

Top of the 4th: Kotsay and Chipper flied to center before McCann's two-out single. Infante dribbled one towards the mound, which Pedro deftly gathered and fired to first to end the inning.

Bottom of the 4th: Groundouts by Castro (to short) and Reyes (to third) sandwiched a fly out to right by Pedro for Hampton's first 1-2-3 inning tonight.

Top of the 5th: Pedro has his second 1-2-3 inning tonight, as Johnson flies to center, Francoeur grounds to third (nice barehanded grab and throw by Wright) and Prado strikes out looking.

Pedro has 61 pitches through five pitches.

Bottom of the 5th: Evans flied out to left for the first out, and then Wright flied to left — just deeper. He lifted a 3-and-1 pitch into the left-center field bleachers to give the Mets a 3-1 lead. (Again, bad numbers against Hampton be damned! Although, the Mets haven't seen him in three years, so he's certainly a different pitcher.)

Anyway, it was Wright's 25th homer and 98th RBI of the season.

Beltran grounded out to third before Delgado doubled to right (his third hit of the night). But Tatis lined one right to Kelly Johnson for the third out.

Hampton is up to 88 pitches.

Top of the 6th: Hampton grounded out to short and then Escobar doubled to left (his second extra-base hit of the night). Kotsay struck out swinging on a nice changeup by Pedro (his fourth K tonight).

Chipper walked, and McCann made Pedro pay with a double to right (his second hit of the evening) to score Escobar and Jones and tie the game at 3.

Infante then blooped a single just beyond the reach of Easley to score McCann and put the Braves up 4-3.

Johnson popped to third to end the inning.

Rough inning for Pedro, who know has 86 pitches.

Bottom of the 6th: A 1-2-3 inning for Hampton (his second tonight), as Easley struck out swinging, Castro flied to center and Pedro lined one right at Francoeur in right.

Top of 7th: Pedro got Francoeur to ground out to second, and then struck out Prado and Hampton looking for his third 1-2-3 inning of the evening.

He has 99 pitches and six K's and could be done for the night.

Bottom of the 7th:

Manager Jerry Manuel said Ryan Church should be in rightfield for the Mets tomorrow if he doesn't suffer any setbacks while playing for Double-A Binghamton tonight.

Church hasn't played for the Mets only sporadically since suffering his second concussion of the year on May 20.

Reyes SS
Evans LF
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Delgado 1B
Tatis RF
Easley 2B
Castro c
Pedro P

Pitching for the Braves: Mike Hampton

The Mets have won eight of nine, Mike Pelfrey looks like Tom Seaver and the Braves are terrible. Life is good at Shea these days, and is about to get even better with the return of Ryan Church this weekend, though the Mets will take it slow with their concussed rightfielder.

As manager Jerry Manuel described it yesterday, there's no need to rush him back to an everyday role. Not with the solid contribution from Fernando Tatis and the successful platoon of Nick Evans/Daniel Murphy in leftfield.

Speaking of the Mets' youth movement, even our own Wally Matthews had to admire the prowess of Pelfrey in last night's 6-3 victory over the Braves. Imagine that.

If you're looking for more details of Big Pelf's huge night, click here. If you want to revel in the Braves' misery -- featuring an explosion by Bobby Cox -- enjoy this story by Anthony Rieber. Oh yeah, don't forget about the signing of Al Reyes, everyone's favorite Tasered reliever.

Good evening Mets fans. Mike Pelfrey (11-9, 3.91 ERA) will be on the mound as the Mets (69-57) play the middle game against the Atlanta Braves (56-70). Pelfey is coming off a stellar performance after scattering seven hits without walking a batter in seven scoreless innings against the Pirates on Friday. For the Braves, Jair Jurrjens (11-8, 3.15) will be on the hill.

Marc here, taking you through tonight’s action.

Stat of the day: Braves catcher Brian McCann is 6-for-11 with four doubles against Pelfrey.

Top 1st: 1-2-3 inning for Pelfrey, who fanned Mets killer Chipper Jones to end the inning.

Bottom 1st: Big inning for the Mets! Not only did Braves starter Jair Jurrjens struggle, but his defense let him down too. With one out, Argenis Reyes battled back from an 0-2 count, singled up the middle and stole second. Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran walked to load the bases with two outs and Daniel Murphy followed with a clutch two-run single. Fernando Tatis hit one to Jones, whose throw bounced past the first baseman as two more runs came in. Brian Schneider then reached on an error by Escobar, whose throw was high, and Pelfrey helped his cause with a run-scoring single. Mets 5, Braves 0.

Top 2nd: It was another 1-2-3 inning for Pelfrey, who was aided by a nice catch by Wright in foul territory.

Bottom 2nd: Mets go down in order.

Top 3rd: With Omar in the booth, Pelfrey issued a leadoff single to Francoeur and a run-scoring base hit to Blanco two batters later. Mets 5, Braves 1.

Bottom 3rd: Tatis smacked a two-out single, but that’s it for the Mets. Beltran, Murphy and Schneider hit ground balls.

Top 4th: Big Pelf walked Mark Kotsay with two outs before getting Greg Norton to fly out. Argenis made a nice diving catch to get McCann out at first for the second out.

Bottom 4th: Not much for the Mets this inning as Pelfrey, Jose Reyes and Argenis Reyes get nothing.

Top 5th: The bottom of the Braves lineup is retired in order. So far, so good for Pelfrey. Let’s see if he can keep this up and give the Mets bullpen a night off.

Bottom 5th: Mets added to their lead as Wright belted his 24th homer on the season. Mets 6, Braves 1.

Top 6th: Shaky inning for Pelfrey. After Blanco reached on a bunt single, he walked Escobar and Jones to load the bases. He was fortunate that McCann grounded into a DP (as a run scored), but then he uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Escobar. Mets 6, Braves 3.

Bottom 6th: Buddy Carlyle came on for Jurrjens and retired Tatis, Schneider and Pelfrey in order.

Top 7th: Seven strong innings for Pelfrey, who threw just six pitches in the inning.

Bottom 7th: Wright drew a two-out walk before Will Ohman got Delgado to ground out.

Top 8th: Pelfrey retired the side in order. Only question left: Will he pitch the ninth? He is at 97 pitches.

Bottom 8th: The Mets go down in order. Big Pelf is coming out for the ninth. Will he notch his first complete game?

Top 9th: Big Pelf retired the side in order to record his first complete game ever. Pelf allowed just three hits and threw 108 pitches. Final: Mets 6, Braves 3.

The Mets have signed righthander Al Reyes to a minor-league contract and he will report tomorrow to Double-A Binghamton. Reyes, 38, was 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 26 games for the Rays before he was designated for assignment on Aug. 9. He spent two stints on the DL this season with injuries to his right shoulder.

In 2007, Reyes went 26-for-30 in save opportunities as Tampa Bay's closer.

JReyes (ss)
AReyes (2b)
Wright (3b)
Delgado (1b)
Beltran (cf)
Murphy (lf)
Tatis (rf)
Schneider (c)
Pelfrey (rhp)