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Perez, Wright lead Mets to ninth win in 10 games

Sep 11, 2007 - 3:40 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) Carlos Beltran called the outing by Oliver Perez "a great performance." It was the type the fading Atlanta Braves have seen all too much of this season.

Perez pitched seven strong innings and David Wright continued his torrid second half with a two-run homer as the New York Mets posted a 3-2 victory over the fading Braves on Monday.

Moises Alou extended his hitting streak to 15 games and Jose Reyes added his 75th stolen base for the Mets (82-61), who remained games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (76-67) and moved 9 1/2 games ahead of the Braves (73-71) in the National League East.

Philadelphia defeated the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Perez improved to 4-1 against the Braves this season as the Mets won for the ninth time in 10 games, including four straight over their division rival in 10 days. New York recorded a three game sweep August 31 - September 2.

"He pitches against us like he does everyone else great," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

With Atlanta sluggers Andruw and Chipper Jones scratched prior to the game, Perez held a 1-0 lead and allowed the Braves just two hits and a walk through five innings. Andruw was out with an illness while Chipper strained an oblique during batting practice.

But Atlanta staged a rally in the sixth. Braves starter Tim Hudson, who pitched well enough to win, led off with a ground single and Yunel Escobar worked a walk before Edgar Renteria lined out hard to third base. Perez then picked off a sleeping Hudson at second.

"I'm hardly ever on second base. I don't know what's too close or too far," Hudson said. "Well, I guess I know what's too far now."

Perez then struck out Matt Diaz, who entered as the top hitter in the league since April 30 (.361).

Wright hit is career-high 28th home run in the bottom half, a two-run blast that provided a 3-0 lead.

"You couldn't pick a better time to peak. We're playing our baseball of the year right now," Wright said.

Atlanta finally reached Perez in the seventh. Jeff Francoeur singled with one out and McCann followed two batters later by drilling a 3-2 offering over the right field fence for his 18th blast of the season.

Perez, who walked five batters in each of his last three starts, left after seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts - one in each inning.

"He was sharp," said Beltran, who ended the game with a sliding catch on a fly ball by Jeff Francoeur in center field.

The 26-year-old Perez also avenged one of his worst outings of the season, when he yielded season highs of six earned runs and 10 hits over five innings in a loss to Atlanta on August 7. The lefthander allowed just three runs in his first three starts against Atlanta.

"Every game is different," said Perez, who credited a change in his mechanics with his success. "I focused on keeping my arm up and in one slot. I needed to be in one slot. That was the key."

Aaron Heilman worked a scoreless eighth and Billy Wagner a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 37 chances.

New York got to the Atlanta starter in the first when Reyes and Luis Castillo led off with singles, and Reyes scored after the second of two fielder-choice groundouts.

Hudson, who was 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in his three previous starts, had his sinker ball working. The first 13 outs he record were via the ground-ball variety, including seven straight to second baseman Escobar. But he got the ball up to Wright, who entered leading all league hitters in batting since the All-Star break (.356).

"It was a good pitch. It was like he was sitting on a heater inside," Hudson said.

Hudson was charged with three runs on five hits in seven innings.