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Uggla extends hit streak, Braves down Mets

Aug 6, 2011 - 4:05 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla waited until the eighth inning, but the Atlanta second baseman extended his career-best hitting streak to 26 games with a key two-run single to help the Braves topple the New York Mets, 4-1, at Citi Field.

Uggla was hitless in his first three at-bats, but his line drive to left field plated Martin Prado and Freddie Freeman. Uggla has the longest active hit streak in the majors and the fourth-longest in Braves history. He is five games behind Rico Carty's team-record of 31 set during the 1970 season.

"I want it to continue just like everybody else does, hopefully," Uggla said. "In that situation, it's actually kind of calming with runners in scoring position right there. I was able to take my focus off of the lesser of the important, which is continuing history...just trying to drive those runs in."

The wild card-leading Braves also own the second-longest hitting streak in the majors in Freeman. The rookie first baseman moved his to 19 games with a double to start the fourth inning.

Jose Constanza had an RBI triple in the third inning for Atlanta, then scored on Michael Bourn's sacrifice fly.

Tim Hudson (11-7) limited the Mets to three hits and a run over seven innings to win for the sixth time in his last seven decisions. Craig Kimbrel notched his 33rd save, extending Atlanta's single-season rookie record.

R.A. Dickey (5-10) gave up five hits and fanned five through seven frames, but fell to 1-7 at home.

"We're just not hitting," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We have to give our guys some support."

David Wright drove in the only New York run with a double in the opening inning. The Mets dropped their fifth in a row and fell a game below .500 (55-56). They've scored just nine runs during the skid.

Wright's double off the wall in left-center field scored Daniel Murphy, who had just singled.

After Alex Gonzalez singled to start the third for Atlanta, Hudson, who was batting eighth in the lineup, then struck out trying to bunt, but Constanza tripled to right and scored on Bourn's fly to left.

Hudson retired Josh Thole on a fly ball to left to end the fourth as the Mets left the bases full.

Dickey stranded two runners in scoring position in the sixth, but the Braves tacked on the big insurance runs two innings later.

Constanza singled against reliever Tim Byrdak to lead off the eighth. After a sacrifice bunt from Bourn, Ryota Igarashi was summoned from New York's bullpen. Prado reached on an infield hit, but the Mets then threw Constanza out at the plate on a grounder to second by Freeman. Uggla, though, came through in the clutch.

The Braves left the bases full in the eighth and the Mets put the tying run at the plate in the bottom half against Jonny Venters, but Angel Pagan flied out and Jason Bay grounded out to stop the threat.

Game Notes

Uggla, who signed a five-year contract extension with the Braves after being acquired from the Marlins in a trade, has struggled to a .215 batting average this season. During his streak, though, Uggla is hitting .350 (35-for-100) with 25 RBI...Hudson had been 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA against the Mets this season, but improved to 14-8 lifetime against them...Braves outfielder Nate McLouth underwent sports hernia surgery Thursday. He's expected to be out six weeks.