Late Francouer Homer Puts Mets Over Braves 3-2

What is that old saying about bringing a closer into a ball game in a non save situation? While my intent is not to second guess Braves Manager Bobby Cox in this instance, but Billy Wagner looked like a little something was missing when he took the mound in the 9th with the score tied at 2-2. Former Brave Jeff Francouer went with a 96 mph fastball on the outer half for a home run to the opposite field (of all things for Francouer) that provided the Mets with the winning margin 3-2.

Once again missed opportunities came back to sting the Braves as they left 10 men on base and were 0-8 with runners in scoring position. It was the search for offense that prompted Cox to lift Derek Lowe in favor of a pinch hitter even though Lowe had only thrown 79 pitches in one of his best starts in a month.

The Braves scored their first run on an RBI ground out by Melky Cabrera in the bottom of the second. The Mets quickly tied it in the third when a Jose Reyes double scored Luis Castillo. The Braves briefly took the lead again in the sixth when Melky Cabrera tripled bringing home Rick Ankiel and giving the Braves a 2-1 advantage.

With the Braves leading 2-1 in the seventh, newly acquired relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth made his Braves debut by walking the lead off man Jeff Francouer. A Luis Castillo sacrifice moved Francouer to second and a Chris Carter pinch hit single tied the game at 2-2. Farnsworth got Jose Reyes to fly to center and escaped further damage when Carter was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

The Braves quickly put two on in the bottom of the seventh with only one out and pinch hitter Troy Glaus at the plate. Glaus was not in the starting lineup due to Cox wanting to rest him in hopes that he snaps out of the terrible slump he is in. New Mets pitcher and former Brave Manny Acosta was able to induce a double play grounder from Glaus that ended the Braves rally.

Once again the Braves were only able to come up with six hits for the night but did work the count for seven walks. As has been the trend for a couple of weeks now they just haven’t been able to deliver with men on base. Melky Cabrera drove in both Braves runs going 1-3 on the night.

Derek Lowe pitched six innings allowing six hits and one earned run. Jonny Venters had another dominating performance striking out two in his one inning of work. Billy Wagner took the loss for only the second time this season.

The loss drops the Braves lead in the division to just two games over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves will be back at it tomorrow night in the series finale and will try to prevent losing their fourth consecutive series.