ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves edged the New York Mets Sunday, 3-1, to complete a weather-shortened two-game sweep of the Mets.
John Smoltz and Johan Santana did their part to make sure this anticipated pitchers' duel lived up to the hype. Fortunately for the Braves, they provided Smoltz just enough support to make sure he enjoyed a successful season debut at the expense of the Mets, who didn't have an enjoyable weekend in Atlanta.
In his solid five-inning effort, Smoltz gave up 2 hits, 2 walks, and fanned 6. He needs 19 for 3,000 career strikeouts. Atlanta's lone run scored when Yunel Escobar doubled Kotsay home in the third inning.
Proving the right shoulder that bothered him a few weeks ago is healthy, Smoltz surrendered just two hits and registered six strikeouts in his five scoreless innings.
After issuing a pair of two-out walks in the first inning, the 40-year-old right-hander faced just one over the minimum during the remainder of his outing. He surrendered a broken-bat bloop double to Santana in the third inning and a Carlos Delgado fourth-inning single.
Mark Kotsay made a key offensive contribution when he began the third inning with a double off Santana and then raced home when Escobar's decisive double soared over left fielder Angel Pagan's head.
Kotsay's defensive contribution came when he raced into right-center field to snare Ryan Church's potential double and then fired a strong throw to first base to double up Delgado.
Santana, who still hasn't beaten the Braves in three career starts, was charged with the one run and seven hits in seven innings. The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner wiggled out of trouble after allowing one-out doubles to Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively.
The Braves' bullpen proved strong to ensure Smoltz would be rewarded for his efforts. Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman and Peter Moylan each hurled an inning of scoreless relief until Rafael Soriano made things a little dicey in the ninth.
Soriano walked David Wright leading off the ninth. He set down the next two hitters, with Wright moving to second on catcher's indifference. Ryan Church singled in Wright for a run and Soriano walked Angel Pagan.
Mark Teixeira, who also had a two-run homer in the game, made a diving stop on Brian Schneider's hard grounder down the first base line to end the game with the tying runs on base.
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The Braves pack their bags and head to Colorado where they open against the Rockies Monday night. Tom Glavine starts for Atlanta.
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Adapted from MLB.com and the Sports Network website.
John Smoltz
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt