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Reyes drives in four; Perez solid in Mets win

Apr 7, 2007 - 5:40 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has been billed as an early MVP candidate. So far he has done nothing to dispel that notion.

Reyes hit his first two triples of the season and drove in four runs as the New York Mets posted an 11-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves, who suffered their worst loss in a home opener.

Reyes, who has seven RBI in his first four games, led off the game with a triple to right-center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Paul Lo Duca. The 23-year-old Reyes hit a two-out, two-run triple that highlighted a three-run sixth that gave New York a 5-1 cushion against Mark Redman.

"I just put the ball in the right places," Reyes said. "It makes it easy for me."

"He's just a good hitter," Redman said. "He's fast."

Reyes' offense was enough for Oliver Perez (1-0), who allowed just one run - a solo shot to Jeff Francoeur - in seven innings. He struck out six and retired 10 straight at one point, helping the Mets to their best start (4-0) since 1985. The Mets franchise record for wins to start a season is five, set by the 1985 club.

"I think last year, I was trying too much," said Perez, who finished the campaign 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA. "Now I just try to throw strikes."

"He's been working really hard and is making strides," Lo Duca said. "He's starting to use all his pitches and both sides of the plate. He's pounding the strike zone. He made some good pitches when he had to."

Perez helped provide more breathing room in the sixth en route to winning his first game on the road since the 2005 season. David Wright led off the sixth with a double off the left field wall and later scored on a single by Shawn Green.

With two outs, Redman gave up a single to Perez that proved costly because Reyes drilled a hard shot to center off Oscar Villarreal, scoring Green and Perez for a 5-1 edge.

Redman allowed five runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in his Atlanta debut. The 33-year old lefthander was signed to a minor league contract midway through spring training after Mike Hampton was sidelined with a strained oblique.

"I don't think I got tired," said Redman, who tossed 112 pitches. "I worked hard to get two outs. Unfortunately, I gave up that third run. To let the pitcher get a base hit with two outs is certainly upsetting."

New York sent 12 batters to the plate in a six-run eighth inning. Reyes capped his night with a two run single and Carlos Delgado, the lone Met starter not to have a hit coming into the frame, followed with a two-run single to center.

"You love Opening Day at home," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I wish we would have played a little bit better."