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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- Rick Reed went to the disabled list after his
last start against Atlanta. This time, it was the Braves who were
hurting.
Reed pitched seven shutout innings for his first victory in more
than a month, and the New York Mets defeated Atlanta 4-0 Saturday
for only their second victory in 19 games at Turner Field since
September 1997.
The Braves' lead in the NL East was reduced to five games.
|  | | The Mets are a horrendous 2-17 in Atlanta since September 1997, but both wins belong to right-hander Rick Reed. |
"Usually when we come in here, we end up making one little
mistake that costs us the game," said Reed (5-2), winning for the
first time since June 18 at Milwaukee. "Today, we played
mistake-free and were able to beat a pretty good team."
Reed has accounted for New York's last two wins in Atlanta,
surrendering one run in 6 1/3 innings during a 10-2 victory on June
25, 1999. This time, he allowed only four hits and benefited from
three double plays in stopping the Braves.
"I did all right," said Atlanta's Greg Maddux (12-4), who lost
despite allowing only five hits and three runs in eight innings.
"The other guy threw a shutout. You've got to tip your hat to him
and move on."
Atlanta has put together eight- and nine-game winning streaks
over the Mets at home, including three victories in last year's NL
Championship Series and a 6-3 triumph Friday night to open this
weekend's three-game series.
Reed started against the Braves on June 29 during a four-game
series at Shea Stadium. He lasted only three innings, suffering a
fractured bone in his left wrist when struck by Andruw Jones' line
drive and also straining his left calf muscle while running to
first. He went on the DL the next day and was making only his
second start since coming off.
"Hopefully, I'm back on track and can help this team win,"
Reed said.
The Mets had hoped to send a contingent including players,
manager Bobby Valentine and general manager Steve Phillips to
Cincinnati after the game for a meeting with All-Star shortstop
Barry Larkin.
New York worked out a trade for Larkin but had to convince him
to accept the deal during a 72-hour window that began Saturday
morning. The meeting arrangements couldn't be worked out, and Reds
general manager Jim Bowden declared that Larkin wouldn't go to New
York without a three-year contract extension.
Phillips seemed unlikely to meet that demand and admitted it
would be difficult to complete a trade.
"I always hold out hope that we can get it done," the GM said,
"but there's hurdles we've got to get over."
Maddux has beaten New York more than any other team (25-15
lifetime) but he has lost his last three regular-season starts
against the Mets. At least he was better than the previous two,
when he surrendered a total of 14 runs in just five innings.
The Mets went ahead in the second with a couple of seeing-eye
hits. Mike Piazza hit a grounder that deflected off Maddux's glove
and skidded by second baseman Keith Lockhart, who was breaking up
the middle. Piazza moved to second on a groundout and scored when
Jay Payton's bouncer up the middle slipped between both Lockhart
and shortstop Rafael Furcal.
In the fifth, Reed drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly
after Todd Zeile led off with a double and Payton followed with
an infield single.
Derek Bell hit the first pitch of the sixth over the
center-field wall for his 14th homer of the season, and New York
added an unearned in the ninth on third baseman Chipper Jones'
throwing error, allowing Piazza to score from second.
The Braves had only one runner get as far as second base. In the
sixth, Furcal reached on a fielder's choice and stole second with
two outs. Andruw Jones grounded to short to end the inning.
Brian Jordan, who had three RBI Friday night, hit into a pair
of double plays against Reed. The Mets turned another DP in the
fifth when Bobby Bonilla struck out on a full count and Andres
Galarraga was thrown out attempting to steal second.
"You have to give a lot of credit to Reed," Jordan said. "We
got to him in New York, but today was his day. He was in great
command of his pitches."
Game notes
Valentine argued vehemently with plate umpire Andrew
Fletcher after the second inning, complaining that Braves catcher
Paul Bako was setting up outside the box behind home plate to give
Maddux a better chance at getting those calls. Against right-handed
hitters, Bako often set up with his right foot totally outside the
catcher's box, but Fletcher didn't take any action. ... Bako,
acquired off waivers from Florida a day earlier, made his first
start for the Braves and apparently takes over as Maddux's regular
catcher. ... Chipper Jones had two of Atlanta's hits to improve his
career average vs. the Mets to .367 (90-of-245). ... All-Star 2B
Edgardo Alfonzo missed his second straight game with a sore right
hip.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Reds GM believes Larkin will reject trade to Mets
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Detroit 5
Detroit 10
Kansas City 6
(2nd game)
Oakland 10
Anaheim 3
Seattle 13
Texas 5
Baltimore 8
Toronto 2
Tampa Bay 12
NY Yankees 4
Boston 8
Chi. White Sox 6
Minnesota 10
Cleveland 6
NY Mets 4
Atlanta 0
Cincinnati 7
Arizona 3
Houston 10
St. Louis 5
Chicago Cubs 3
Milwaukee 2
San Francisco 5
Los Angeles 2
Montreal 17
Florida 7
Pittsburgh 2
Philadelphia 1
Colorado 9
San Diego 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Chipper Jones compliments Rick Reed on his Greg Maddux-type performance.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Rick Reed shut down Brian Jordan, who hurt the Mets the night before with 3 RBI.
wav: 156 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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