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Murphy sparks big frame as Mets reclaim first place

Sep 20, 2008 - 4:40 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Rookie Daniel Murphy and Jose Reyes helped the New York Mets finally exorcise some demons at Turner Field.

Murphy rescued the maligned Mets' bullpen by snapping a tie in the eighth with a pinch-hit, two-run double and Reyes hit another leadoff homer as New York posted a 9-5 victory over the hapless Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Reyes hit his second leadoff homer in two games for the Mets (86-67), who moved one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (86-68) in the National League East. The Phillies dropped a 14-8 decision to the Florida Marlins.

"Right now we're in first place," Reyes said. "But we have to worry about playing the games here in Atlanta."

Rookie Nick Evans homered and David Wright snapped out of a 1-for-19 slump with an RBI double as the Mets posted their third straight win. It was a rare victory in Atlanta.

Turner Field has been less than hospitable to New York, as the Mets had lost a staggering 64 of 95 games at Atlanta's former Olympic Stadium entering Friday - including six straight this season.

"It's never easy against the Braves," Reyes said. "They still play a very good ballgame. We feel more happy with a win tonight."

Luckily for the Mets, Murphy, who began the season in Class AA Binghamton, was oblivious to New York's dubious history in this ballpark.

"It's a big win," Murphy said. "I'm excited and exhilarated all in one. I am just happy to be able to help this team win. Hopefully, I can help this team win a pennant."

Until Murphy's heroics, things did not look good.

But New York was able to overcome a shaky seventh in which its bullpen blew yet another save opportunity, by sending nine men to the plate in a four-run eighth.

With the contest knotted at 5-5, Carlos Delgado led off the frame with a single up the middle off Atlanta reliever Julian Tavarez (1-3).

Third baseman Martin Prado fielded pinch hitter Argenis Reyes' sacrifice bunt down the third-base line, but second baseman Kelly Johnson dropped Prado's throw.

Two batters later, Murphy laced a double into the left-center field gap, plating Delgado and Reyes to give the Mets a 7-5 lead. Jose Reyes plated Murphy with a two-out single and advanced to second on a base hit by Luis Castillo.

"It really doesn't surprise me (that he got the big hit)," Evans said. "In the two years that I've played with him, he's one of the most clutch players that I've ever played with."

"He's a good hitter, I enjoy watching him," Jose Reyes added. "He has an idea with the strike zone. That's good to see with a young hitter."

Wright capped the frame with an RBI single for the final margin.

New York clung to a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, but squandered it thanks to some shoddy defense and another implosion by its relievers.

Jose Reyes' throwing error led to an unearned run as the New York bullpen blew its 26th save opportunity in 36 chances since closer Billy Wagner was sidelined with a strained left forearm on August 5.

Brandon Jones scored all the way from first base after right fielder Ryan Church overran a single by Prado, knotting the game at 5-5.

Prado advanced to second base on Church's defensive miscue and third on a fly ball by Johnson. But a trio of Mets relievers thwarted the Atlanta rally. Pedro Feliciano (3-4) recorded the final out in the frame to record the victory.

Prado started the game in left field, but moved to third when Chipper Jones left in the fifth inning with a sore shoulder. Jones is day-to-day. The 36-year-old has been slowed by various injuries all season, but leads the National League with a .362 average - nine points ahead of St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols (.353).

He went 0-for-3 before departing.

Jo-Jo Reyes surrendered five runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings for the Braves, who have lost four straight.

"When I needed to throw up zeros, I didn't," Reyes said. "The team gave me the lead and I wasn't able to hold it."