Derek Lowe outlasted Johan Santana by one out and the offense broke it open late as the Braves snapped the Mets winning streak with a 8-3 win.
The Braves got to Santana in the first for a run when Matt Diaz hit an infield single and Yunel Escobar scored from second due to a borderline throwing error on David Wright. The Mets tied it in the fifth on a sac fly RBI by Omir Santos.
Diaz struck again with a big blow in the seventh, singling in two to break the tie. Casey Kotchman added a two-run single in the inning for a four-run lead. The Mets cut the lead to three in the home half on an RBI groundout by Fernando Tatis.
The Braves broke it open in the eighth and ninth. Escobar drove in a run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, and Jeff Francoeur and Omar Infante each drove in a run in the ninth for a six-run lead. Santos singled in a run in the ninth but that was all the Mets would manage.
Lowe allowed two runs on five hits in six and two-thirds innings, walking two and striking out one. Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless eighth. Buddy Carlyle allowed a run on three hits and a walk in the ninth.
Diaz had three hits and two RBIs for the Braves. Kotchman had two hits and two RBIs. Escobar added three hits and an RBI, and Francoeur and Infante added an RBI each.
Despite the loss, Santana lowered his ERA to 0.78 due to both runs being unearned. He gave up a total of seven hits in six and a third innings, walking one and striking out six. Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano were charged with three total runs, all unearned due to an error by Jose Reyes that would have gotten the Mets out of a jam in the seventh. Brian Stokes allowed a run in an inning and Ken Takahashi allowed two runs in an inning.
Santos led the Mets with two RBIs. Tatis added two hits and an RBI, and Wright added two hits.
The Braves send Jair Jurrjens to the hill on Tuesday night to face Mike Pelfrey. Game time is 7:05.
Notes:
- Chipper Jones and Carlos Delgado sat out with injuries.
- Matt Diaz has 10 hits in 18 career at bats vs. Johan Santana.
Topics: Braves, casey kotchman, David Wright, derek lowe, Johan Santana, Jose Reyes, matt diaz, Mets, yunel escobar
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