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Braves solve Mets nemesis Oliver Perez
2007-08-08
The Atlanta Braves finally figured out Oliver Perez. Beaten three times by Perez -- the only games they have lost to New York this season -- the Braves got some revenge Tuesday night, ripping the left-hander for two home runs and 10 hits in a 7-3 victory over the Mets. Matt Diaz hit a solo home run and Jeff Francoeur added a three-run shot. The victory, Atlanta's seventh in 10 games against New York this season, moved the second-place Braves within 3 1/2 games of the Mets in the National League East. In his first three starts against Atlanta this season, Perez (10-8) had allowed three runs in 20 2-3 innings. He allowed that many in the first two innings Tuesday night. He struggled right from the start, needing eight pitches to retire leadoff batter Yunel Escobar in the first inning. Diaz, Atlanta's second batter, then hit Perez's next pitch for a home run. It was the eighth of the season for Diaz. In the second, Francoeur doubled with one out and scored on a single by Brian McCann. Then pitcher Buddy Carlyle singled and Escobar doubled for a 3-0 Atlanta lead. Perez retired Diaz for the third out, stranding two runners in scoring position. But the Braves were back for more an inning later. Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones singled and Francoeur hit his 13th home run of the season to make it 6-0. Perez, usually energetic and exuberant, kicked the dirt disgustedly as he walked off the mound at the end of the inning. He allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his first 19 starts but was nowhere near that efficient in No. 20. Meanwhile, Carlyle (7-3) benefited from the big early lead. He suffered a hyperextended right elbow while batting in his last start and was forced to leave the game after five innings. But he did not seem bothered by it and won for the fifth time in his last six decisions. The journeyman right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. The Mets nicked him for a run in the fourth when David Wright walked, took third on a single by Carlos Delgado and scored as Moises Alou hit into a double play. In the fifth, Lastings Milledge opened with a double and scored on a triple by pinch hitter David Newhan. Jose Reyes then bounced out, scoring Newhan. Four Braves relievers pitched four hitless innings to close out the game. Chipper Jones opened the Braves seventh against Mets reliever Aaron Sele with a triple off the glove of Milledge in center field and came home as Alou made a diving grab, turning Mark Teixeira's line drive into a sacrifice fly. NOTES:@ Mets 3B Wright and SS Reyes let a foul pop by Kelly Johnson drop in the second inning. Perez came back to strike out Johnson. ... Perez threw 109 pitches in five innings. ... Francoeur had four hits, falling a triple short of the cycle. ... Alou hit into two double plays. ... Braves pinch hitter Scott Thorman doubled off the top of the right field fence in the sixth, missing a home run by inches. ... Martin Prado, just called up from Triple-A Richmond, had a pinch double in the eighth.
Owings leads D-Backs to win over Braves (2007-08-18)Bobby Cox ejected in Braves win (2007-08-16)Braves solve Mets nemesis Oliver Perez (2007-08-08)Dodgers' Lowe keeps Bonds stuck at 751 (2007-07-15)Cubs hand Piniella a win on his return (2007-06-07)
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