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Mets take down Braves; Uggla extends hit streak

Aug 7, 2011 - 5:13 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Justin Turner belted a pair of homers, and the Mets topped the Braves, 11-7, on a rainy night in which Atlanta's Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman extended their hitting streaks.

Jason Bay homered and knocked in three runs, as the Mets snapped a five-game skid. Josh Thole also went deep, as he and Angel Pagan each finished with three hits, part of a 16-hit attack. The Mets had scored a total of nine runs during their slide.

Uggla moved his career-best streak to 27 games with an infield single as part of a five-run third inning. The wild card-leading Braves also own the second- longest hitting streak in the majors in Freeman. The rookie first baseman moved his to 20 games with a broken-bat RBI line single to center field in the third frame.

"We're pulling for each other," Uggla said. "I love watching him [Freeman] hit. He's a special kid. I'm sure he's just as excited to see what I'm doing."

Uggla has the longest active hit streak in the majors and the fourth-longest in Braves history. He is four games behind Rico Carty's team-record of 31 set during the 1970 season. Ahead of Uggla are Marquis Grissom (28, 1996) and Rowland Office (29, 1976).

The hit streaks led to a 5-2 lead, but Tommy Hanson (11-7) couldn't hold the edge as he was drilled for eight hits and seven runs over 3 1/3 innings.

The offensive explosion got Jon Niese (11-8) off the hook after he allowed 10 hits and five runs over five frames.

A groundout by Alex Gonzalez plated Uggla in the seventh, but the Mets scored three times in the bottom half. Pagan doubled to lead off, and with one out pinch-hitter Scott Hairston singled to right off George Sherrill for an 8-6 advantage. Thole singled and pinch-hitter Nick Evans walked, leading to Jose Reyes' line base hit to center field. Turner's groundout made it 10-6.

Bay's single scored David Wright in the eighth before Uggla homered in the ninth.

Turner homered to right field with one out in the opening inning.

"I know he's got a little power, but I haven't seen the opposite field like that," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I'm happy for him too because he's one of those guys that shows up, wants to play and wants to play well."

Wright added an RBI double later in the frame, but the Braves went ahead in the third. Four straight batters reached safely, including Freeman's lone RBI of the night.

With men on first and second and nobody out, Uggla hit a bouncer right on the chalk line toward third base. Wright charged the ball and picked it up, but had no play as the hit streak was extended.

A groundout by Chipper Jones plated another run and David Ross singled in a pair. Ross later came in on a ground ball from Jose Constanza.

Bay homered in the bottom of the third for a 5-4 game and the Mets went ahead in the fourth. Thole tied it with his lead-off blast to right. Reyes walked with one out and stole a pair of bases before Turner's second blast of the game, this one to left, made it 7-5.

Game Notes

Freeman has the second-longest rookie hit streak in Braves history. Alvin Dark hit in 23 straight for the Boston Braves in 1948...Jair Jurrjens, who was scheduled to start Sunday, was scratched and put on the 15-day disabled list due to a right knee strain. Mike Minor has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and will start in Jurrjens' place for Atlanta...The start of the game was delayed 62 minutes by rain...Jones returned to the starting lineup for the first time in nearly two weeks. He had been limited to pinch-hitting duties since straining his right quadriceps on July 25.