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Mets-Braves Preview

Sep 16, 2009 - 3:25 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

New York (63-81) at Atlanta (75-68), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves' recent surge likely won't help them reach the postseason. The New York Mets playoff hopes have been over for some time.

Clinging to faint playoff hopes, the Braves look for a season-high sixth straight win when they host the Mets on Wednesday night.

Adam LaRoche homered twice and drove in three runs while Tommy Hanson pitched seven strong innings in Atlanta's 6-0 win over New York in Tuesday's series opener.

While the Braves (76-68) have won five in a row for the third time this season, they're 7 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East while still trying to catch wild card-leading Colorado. A five-game losing streak Sept. 2-6 didn't help the Braves' postseason chances.

Atlanta is 8-5 against New York (63-82), which has lost three in a row and seven of eight.

"We have absolutely nothing to lose. We have zero pressure," said LaRoche, who became the first Braves player to have four extra-base hits in a game Tuesday since he did it Aug. 30, 2006. "We're in a bad position. Everyone is just going out there and doing their thing."

LaRoche has 25 homers - 12 in 40 games since being acquired from Boston on July 31. The veteran first baseman is hitting .351 since re-joining the Braves. He's batting .419 with five home runs and nine RBIs against the Mets this season.

Looking to win his second straight start, Derek Lowe (14-9, 4.47 ERA) tries to improve on his 1-1 mark with a 7.16 ERA in three appearances against New York in 2009.

Lowe, who's 2-2 with an 8.17 ERA in five career starts versus the Mets, allowed eight runs and 11 hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 9-4 loss at New York on Aug. 18.

In his last start overall, the right-hander gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings, but earned the win in a 9-7 victory at Houston on Thursday.

Despite trying for his most wins since going 16-8 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, Lowe hasn't been happy with his effort during his first season in Atlanta.

"It's been kind of a struggle for me," Lowe said. "If it was a normal year, where you're a lot more consistent, then you can kind of settle down. It's been a long season."

David Wright is 5 for 11 with two doubles against Lowe, but went 0 for 3 on Tuesday for the Mets, who were shut out for the second straight game and have scored four runs in their last 27 innings.

Daniel Murphy had two hits Tuesday for New York, which is averaging 3.1 runs in its last eight contests.

Bobby Parnell (3-8, 5.49) looks to avoid a fifth consecutive loss for the Mets while hoping to fare better than his last outing against Atlanta.

The right-hander, who's 1-5 with a 7.91 ERA in seven starts since leaving the bullpen, gave up nine runs and nine hits in three innings of a 15-2 loss to the Braves on Aug. 19.

In his last outing, Parnell allowed six runs in five innings of a 13-4 loss to Florida on Thursday.