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Mets hope to hang onto division lead

Sep 14, 2008 - 7:26 AM Atlanta (66-83) at NY Mets (83-64) 1:10 p.m. EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets are no strangers to letting late leads slip away, both in games and in the standings.

The Mets will be looking to hang onto to their lead in the National League East on Sunday when they face the Atlanta Braves.

New York, which blew a seven-game lead with 17 games to play last September, dropped the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday when the bullpen surrendered a two-run lead in the eighth inning en route to a 3-2 loss. It marked the seventh time this season that the bullpen had blown a lead in one of Johan Santana's start.

Instead of imploding in the nightcap, rookie Jon Niese tossed eight strong innings and the Mets clubbed three homers in a 5-0 win that pushed their lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (81-67) in the NL East to 2 1/2 games.

Oliver Perez (10-7, 4.15 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets looking to bounce back from his worst start of the season. The lefthander, who is a free agent after this season, allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 frames Tuesday against the lowly Washington Nationals, though he did not factor in the decision.

The 27-year-old Perez allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on August 19. He is 6-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 12 career starts against the Braves.

Atlanta will counter with rookie Jorge Campillo (7-7, 3.70). The Mexican righthander has not earned a win since August 8, going 0-3 with a 6.92 ERA in his last six starts.

Campillo made a start against New York on May 20, allowing three hits in six scoreless frames while striking out seven.