Teixeira, Braves trounce Mets

Sep 12, 2007, 2:45 GMT

Flushing, NY - Mark Teixeira belted a three-run homer during a six-run fourth inning and the Atlanta Braves cruised to a 13-5 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Willie Harris recorded four RBI and Yunel Escobar also homered for the Braves, who bounced back from a 3-2 setback on Monday to even this three-game series. The Braves snapped a two-game skid and in the process put the brakes on the Mets' four-game win streak.

'We hit some balls really hard and I like to see that,' said Atlanta manager Bobby Cox.

Buddy Carlyle started on the mound for the Braves and allowed three runs on six hits through 4 1/3 innings before Peter Moylan (5-3) secured the win with 1 2/3 perfect relief innings.

'Our bullpen was outstanding, especially Moylan by not allowing anything,' Cox added.

Orlando Hernandez lasted only three-plus innings for the Mets, who despite the loss remain comfortably atop the NL East by six games over the Phillies, who also lost on Tuesday. Atlanta sits 8 1/2 games behind New York.

'Every game is important, every game is a must-win at this point in the season,' Teixeira said. 'If we have any chance (to make the playoffs), we have to go on a huge (win streak) right now so that's what we're trying to do.'

Hernandez (9-5) allowed eight runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts. He pitched to five batters in the fourth inning but did not record an out.

'He's such a 'feel' pitcher,' said Paul Lo Duca of Hernandez. 'It's just one of those outings. I expect him to bounce back and throw good (next time).'

Lo Duca and Moises Alou both homered in the loss.

The Braves jumped out to a big lead in the early innings with a run in the second, two in the third and six in the top of the fourth. The first run crossed the plate when Harris drew a walk with the bases loaded before Escobar's two-run homer in the third made it 3-0.

In the fourth, the Braves exploded for six more runs. Jeff Francoeur led off with a single and moved to second when Andruw Jones was hit by a pitch. Harris then walked and Carlyle's single allowed Francoeur to score. Kelly Johnson followed with a two-run base hit and Aaron Sele entered from the New York bullpen.

Sele got two straight outs, but with two runners on base, Teixeira belted a three-run homer over the wall in right field to push the Braves to a very comfortable nine-run advantage.

The Mets scored three in the home fourth. Carlos Beltran led off with a double and Alou singled before Jeff Conine's sacrifice fly made it 9-1. Lo Duca followed with his eighth home run of the season.

An RBI single by Harris in the fifth gave the visitors a 10-3 lead.

New York's fourth run was scored in the seventh when David Wright doubled home Jose Reyes.

The Braves continued to pour it on in the top of the eighth. A pair of singles by Renteria and Teixeira preceded a walk to Brian McCann before Jones' double plated two runs. Later in the frame, a groundout by Harris allowed McCann to cross the plate.

Alou's solo blast in the eighth off of Jose Ascaino capped the scoring.

Game Notes

Braves slugger Chipper Jones missed the game with a strained muscle on his right side...The Braves snapped a four-games slide against the Mets......The season series is now 9-8 in favor of Atlanta...Attendance was 48,732.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.