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Back in first, Mets hope to keep rolling vs. Braves

Sep 20, 2008 - 10:13 AM Ny Mets (86-67) at Atlanta (67-87) 7:10 pm. EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The New York Mets' offense has them back in first place. They may need to keep piling up the hits with Pedro Martinez on the hill.

Martinez aims for his first win in three starts on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.

After struggling in the first two games against Washington, the Mets' offense has come to life. Jose Reyes hit his second leadoff homer in the last three games and rookie Daniel Murphy sparked a four-run eighth with a pinch-hit, two-run double as the Mets posted a 9-5 victory on Friday.

The win, coupled with a loss by Philadelphia (86-68), gave New York a one-half game lead in the National League East.

New York managed two runs in dropping the first two games vs. the Nationals, but has scored 25 runs over the last three contests. All-Star third baseman David Wright may be starting to show signs of life, too.

Wright snapped an 0-for-14 skid with an RBI double on Friday. He leads the Mets with 114 RBI, but has driven in only 11 runs in September. Wright and company may need to score a ton of runs with Martinez (5-5, 5.47 ERA) on the hill.

The brittle 36-year-old righthander is 2-2 with a 7.26 ERA in his last five starts, and was rocked for four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 7-2 loss to the lowly Nationals on Monday.

Martinez, who is looking to avoid losing three straight starts for the first time in two years, is 11-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 29 games against Atlanta.

The Braves, who have lost four straight, counter with Jorge Campillo (7-7, 3.79). Campillo was roughed up for four runs - three earned- and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 7-4 win over New York on Sunday.