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Mets, Braves stage rubber match in Flushing

Jun 5, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey tries to pitch the New York Mets to a series win over the Atlanta Braves this evening when the National League East combatants play the rubber match of a three-game series at Citi Field.

Jose Reyes' eighth inning error proved costly in the Mets' Friday night loss, but the talented shortstop atoned for his mistake on Saturday, as his three- run triple highlighted a five-run seventh inning and helped lead New York to a 5-0 win.

Dillon Gee (6-0) scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings to get the win, while Justin Turner and Jason Pridie each drove in a run in the pivotal frame for the Mets, who have won two of their last three.

"I think the confidence factor is pretty high right now, just knowing that the guys keep picking me up each time I go out there," said Gee. "You have to give credit to the guys that play defense behind me."

Jair Jurrjens (7-2), the NL's Pitcher of the Month for May, got the loss as he was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on six hits with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings for the Braves, who had a two-game winning streak stopped.

Tonight, New York will turn. Dickey, who is a miserable 2-6 on the season with a 4.39 ERA. Dickey was brilliant in not giving up a run over the first seven innings of his last start on Tuesday against Pittsburgh, but the wheels came off in the eighth, as he allowed three runs and was saddled with the loss. The knuckle-balling right-hander did strike out a season-high 10 batters in the 7 2/3-ining effort.

"Anytime that you know you're capable of better, it hurts," Dickey said. "And it's tough. But that's the nature of the beast."

Dickey is 0-2 in six games (three starts) against the Braves with a 5.56 ERA. He actually threw a scoreless inning of relief against them earlier in the year.

Getting the call for the Braves tonight will be right-hander Tim Hudson, who is 4-4 on the year, but 0-2 over his last four starts. Hudson did not get a decision on Monday against San Diego, despite allowing just one earned run over six innings to lower his ERA to 3.75.

Hudson has faced the Mets 20 times and is 13-6 against them with a 3.41 ERA.

Atlanta took two of three from the Mets earlier in the year.