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Colon goes after ninth win against Braves

Jun 12, 2015 - 2:34 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - New York Mets hurler Bartolo Colon tries for his MLB high-tying ninth victory of the season on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves.

Colon had a two-start winning streak halted with a 2-1 loss at Arizona on Saturday. The 42-year-old gave up both runs and struck out seven over seven innings, the 10th time in 12 starts this year he has gone at least six frames. However, the lack of run support dropped him to 8-4 with a 4.52 earned run average.

"He pitched his heart out tonight, but we couldn't get him any runs. That's just part of the game," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

The right-hander has picked up a pair of wins over the Braves this season, giving up three runs in each outing, and is 6-2 against them lifetime with a 2.48 ERA in eight games.

The Mets avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants with Thursday's 5-4 victory. Michael Cuddyer was the hero as he singled in the winning run in the ninth inning.

Sergio Romo started off the ninth by striking out John Mayberry, but then plunked Curtis Granderson with a pitch. A passed ball moved Granderson to second and a groundout from Juan Lagares allowed him to take third. After Lucas Duda was issued an intentional walk, Cuddyer punched a grounder into center for the win.

Cuddyer finished the game with two RBI while Granderson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Mets, who had lost four of five.

Jon Niese allowed four runs -- two earned -- on five hits over seven innings, while Jeurys Familia earned the win with a scoreless ninth.

"It was a good outing to build on. My stuff felt great," Niese said.

Getting the call tonight for the Braves will be Alex Wood, who had a three- start winning streak halted with a loss on Sunday.

Wood suffered his first defeat since May 4 as he was charged with three runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings before getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes. He added five strikeouts and logged 88 pitches before getting tossed.

"He can't get thrown out of the game there," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "I don't know what was said. Obviously if I thought it was a heated situation I would have gotten out there sooner."

Wood fell to 4-3 on the year with a 3.36 ERA and the left-hander has never beaten the Mets, going 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA over six previous meetings. That includes a no-decision on April 12 in Atlanta as he yielded three runs and fanned seven over 6 2/3 innings.

The Braves are coming off a 3-4 homestand after splitting a four-game set with the San Diego Padres. They were in line to win the series, but were let down by their bullpen in Thursday's 6-4 loss in 11 innings.

San Diego plated three runs in the eighth inning on a passed ball, a bases- loaded walk and catcher's interference to tie the game, then got the winning two-run single from Yangervis Solarte in extra innings.

"If we go out there and we get 1-2-3 (eighth) and we hand the ball off to (closer Jason) Grilli and we don't blow up the bullpen, we get a chance to win the series and have a winning homestand. That didn't happen." Gonzalez said.

The game started 56 minutes late because of rain and the benches cleared not long after that when Braves starter Julio Teheran hit Matt Kemp in the top of the first inning.

Teheran pitched into the eighth and was charged with four runs -- three earned -- despite giving up just four hits and striking out seven. Freddie Freeman homered and drove in two runs as part of three-hit day.

The Mets swept a three-game set over the Braves at home from April 21-23 and are 4-2 against them this season. They have won seven of the past encounters overall.