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Johnson powers Braves past Mets

Apr 22, 2007 - 9:51 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets might like to think of themselves as the class of the National League East but Kelly Johnson and the Atlanta Braves apparently feel otherwise.

Johnson hit a pair of home runs and the Braves' bullpen answered the call in relief of John Smoltz to lead Atlanta to a 9-6 victory in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Atlanta has won four of the six meetings with New York so far this season, with the most recent victory sparked by Johnson, who was 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-2 loss.

"Kelly's got a great makeup," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "He's a hard worker. He still very seldom gets confused at the plate or has a real bad swing. He knows what he's doing up there."

The Braves' second baseman homered to right field in the first inning off Tom Glavine to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead and his three-run shot in the eighth off Aaron Heilman snapped a 6-6 tie.

"Those are the ones you are going to remember," Johnson said. "I can honestly say that so far is my favorite or biggest one and I'll remember that for a long time. These intra-division games and against your rival, you couldn't ask for anything more, especially in New York."

"It was a fastball up," Heilman said. "The ball kind of got away. I wasn't able to rotate. It's still a mistake."

The game was supposed to be about the matchup of former teammates Smoltz and Glavine but Johnson and the Braves' bullpen were the standouts.

Johnson went 3-for-4 with four RBI in the first multi-homer game of his career. Edgar Renteria had a three-run shot in the seventh to forge a 6-6 tie.

Smoltz allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings but was bailed out by the bullpen.

Steve Colyer, Tyler Yates, Rafael Soriano and Bob Wickman combined to allow only two hits over the final 3 1/3. Yates (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect seventh and Wickman worked around a hit and a walk in the ninth for his sixth save in as many opportunities.

"It's just one of those games," Smoltz said. "I'm glad we won two of three and I'm proud of those guys (the bullpen) Heilman (1-2) took the loss after allowing three runs and one hit in one inning.

"It's not fun," Heilman said. "It's not enjoyable."

It was bullpen success that separated the teams last season as the Mets ran away with the division, ending Atlanta's 14-year run. This year, the relief corps for both teams have been just as effective.

New York's bullpen came into Sunday with a major-league best 1.31 ERA and had not allowed an earned run in the previous 25 2/3 innings dating to April 11.

"They have been outstanding all season," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "It was just a matter of time and every once in a while (it happens). They've been throwing the ball well out there but today we gave up a majority of our runs with two outs.

"Give them credit. They kept battling. That's the way it's going to be all year."

Jose Reyes belted a three-run triple in the sixth off Smoltz to put New York ahead 6-3 and then the New York bullpen collapsed. Ambiorix Burgos gave up a two-out double to pinch hitter Scott Thorman and was replaced by Scott Schoeneweis.

The lefthander, who had not allowed a run in his first eight outings as a Mets, walked Johnson and then allowed Renteria's third home run of the season, which forged a 6-6 tie.

"I fell behind him 1-0," Schoeneweis said. "It's like he was looking for it. He's a good hitter. These things happen."

"I got lucky," Renteria said. "I hit the ball good. (It was) a fastball."