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Hudson shuts down mighty Mets

Apr 21, 2007 - 3:28 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Tim Hudson stayed red hot and cooled off the New York Mets.

Hudson quieted the Mets' awesome hitting attack for eight innings and Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer as the Atlanta Braves posted a 7-3 victory in the opener of a three-game series.

Brian McCann added an RBI double for the Braves, who moved back ahead of the Mets and into first place in the NL East. The Mets have lost just five games this season, but three have been against Atlanta.

Mets manager Willie Randolph wore No. 42 as part of the Mets' celebration of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier. The festivities were rescheduled to Friday after last Sunday's game was postponed by rain. Former Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca even sang "God Bless America" in the seventh inning and received a warm ovation.

The crowd of 47,547 had few other reasons to cheer.

"Too much Mr. Hudson tonight," Randolph said. "He's been going great all year. Maybe the next time we get him, he won't be as good."

David Wright was 0-for-3, ending his club-record hitting streak at 26 games.

"It was fun while it lasted, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it," Wright said.

The Mets had outslugged their opponents, 28-6, in winning their last three games, but were shut down by Hudson. The reigning NL Player of the Week retired the first 11 batters he faced and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.

"He's been in quite the groove, at the top of his game," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Hudson (3-0) allowed five hits, walking two and striking out three while lowering his ERA to 0.62.

"I can't remember a better start for me. My delivery is in sync and I'm making pitches," Hudson said. "This game is all about confidence. You can out there and have crappy stuff and still feel you can win."

Moises Alou collected the first Mets hit on a one-out single in the fifth. The Mets loaded the bases, but second baseman Kelly Johnson ended the threat, making a nice play on a ground ball by Jose Reyes to get the force at second.

The Braves turned double plays to end New York threats in the seventh and eighth.

Shawn Green belted a two-run homer off Atlanta reliever Rafael Soriano during a three-run ninth for the Mets. Wright's hitting streak ended after he walked in the ninth.

Rookie Mike Pelfrey (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs and six hits in five innings.

Jones hit a two-run homer in the first inning on the first pitch he saw from Pelfrey. It was his 37th career home run against the Mets in 597 at-bats.

"When you face a young guy, if he has success early, he can build confidence as the game goes on. We wanted to jump on him early," Jones said. "I'm trying to prove there is some good baseball left in me."

Jones walked with two outs in the third and Andruw Jones was hit by a pitch before McCann lined an RBI double to right field. Andruw Jones came home on a wild pitch by Pelfrey, increasing Atlanta's lead to 4-0.

A throwing error by shortstop Jose Reyes allowed the Braves to score three unearned runs in the seventh.

Pedro Feliciano walked Jeff Francoeur with the bases loaded before Ambiorix Burgos relieved and did the same to pinch hitter Craig Wilson. The third run in the inning scored on a wild pitch.