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Braves overcome Bay GS, nip Mets in twinbill opener

Sep 8, 2011 - 11:58 PM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves were determined to avoid their first four-game losing streak this season.

Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 with a two-run double and Chipper Jones added a solo home run, as the Braves edged the New York Mets, 6-5, in the opener of a doubleheader at Citi Field.

Martin Prado joined Freeman with three hits and knocked in a run for Atlanta, which had suffered its first sweep of 2011, dropping three games to the MLB- best Philadelphia Phillies.

Mike Minor (5-2) gave up a grand slam to New York's Jason Bay among seven hits in five innings of work.

Chris Schwinden (0-1), who was making his major-league debut for the Mets, surrendered five runs on eight hits over five frames.

Tim Byrdak relieved Ryota Igarashi in the top of the eighth inning after the latter loaded the bases with two outs. On his fifth pitch, Byrdak plunked Michael Bourn to force in a run before Jones struck out swinging.

A sacrifice fly by Nick Evans off Jonny Venters trimmed Atlanta's lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth.

Craig Kimbrel worked around a lead off single by pinch-hitter Jose Reyes in the ninth to extend his rookie saves record to 43.

The first inning proved to be taxing for both starting pitchers as the teams combined for seven runs -- all coming with two outs.

Freeman doubled home Jones and Dan Uggla, then scored on an infield single by Prado to put Atlanta up 3-0.

New York seized the lead on Bay's fourth career grand slam. Lucas Duda kept the frame alive with a single, and David Wright stroked a double before Angel Pagan walked in front of Bay's blast to left-center.

Atlanta tied the game in the third when Jones led off by driving his 16th home run of the season to right field. Three consecutive two-out singles produced the go-ahead run later in the inning, with Freeman scoring on Jason Heyward's blooper to center.

Game Notes

The Braves and Mets are playing a doubleheader as a makeup for two games that were postponed on August 27-28 due to Hurricane Irene...Jones matched Carl Yastrzemski for 33rd place all-time in home runs (452)...Schwinden went 8-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Buffalo...Kimbrel has not been scored upon in his last 37 appearances.