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Braves beat Mets to avoid sweep

Jul 11, 2014 - 2:52 AM Flushing, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Aaron Harang tossed seven strong innings, Craig Kimbrel recorded a four-out save and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets, 3-1, to avoid a four-game sweep at Citi Field.

Harang (9-6) won his fourth straight start after holding the Mets to a run on four hits and four walks.

"Harang did a terrific job, then Kimbrel came in," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "It was a good all-around win today."

Andrelton Simmons had two hits and scored two runs for Atlanta, which snapped a four-game skid that followed its season-high nine-game winning streak.

Bartolo Colon (8-8) overcame a shaky start to pitch eight innings for the Mets. He allowed three runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

New York had won four games in a row.

The Braves struck early as Simmons hit a one-out single in the first and scored on a Freddie Freeman double to right. Jason Heyward then plated Freeman with a two-out bloop single to left.

Simmons came home on a double-play groundout in the third after he and Freeman opened the inning with consecutive singles.

New York got on the board in the bottom of the third. Eric Young Jr. led off with a single and stole second before scoring on David Wright's one-out single to left.

Harang worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to preserve the lead. He retired the first two batters, but a Daniel Murphy single and two walks loaded the bases for Travis d'Arnaud, who flew out to center.

"We had a chance to get back in the game and that's what we've been doing. We've come up with a big hit during those innings lately and tonight we didn't get it," said Mets manager Terry Collins.

When the Mets threatened again in the eighth, Kimbrel entered from the bullpen. He fanned pinch-hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis with two men aboard to end the inning, then spun a 1-2-3 ninth for his 28th save of the season.

Game Notes

The Mets haven't swept the Braves in four games since July 20-23, 1989 ... Harang threw seven no-hit innings at Citi Field back on April 18 ... Both teams were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.