Dickey Baffles Braves, Mets Win 6-4
NEW YORK (AP) — R.A. Dickey pitched eight baffling innings, Jose Reyes hit an RBI double and scored twice and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves for the second straight night, 6-4 on Sunday.
Carlos Beltran had a run-scoring double off Tim Hudson (4-5) before fouling a ball off his right shin and leaving the game in pain. Justin Turner added an RBI single and the banged-up Mets finished 5-5 on a homestand against Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
Brian McCann homered off Dickey (3-6) leading off the seventh to snap Atlanta's scoreless streak at 15 innings. They were shut out 5-0 by rookie Dillon Gee and two relievers Saturday night.
The Mets, with Ike Davis and David Wright already on the disabled list, got another injury scare when Beltran fouled a ball off his lower leg in the second inning. Fans at Citi Field gasped when they saw their most productive hitter this season limp out of the batter's box and fall to his knees.
After being attended to for several minutes, Beltran struck out to end the inning and was replaced by Willie Harris, who went to left field even though slumping slugger Jason Bay was on the bench.
Bay was given a night off for what manager Terry Collins called a chance to "take a deep breath." Jason Pridie switched from left to right.
X-rays on Beltran's leg were negative and he is day to day with a bruise. When Beltran left, the Mets were already ahead 4-0.
Hudson was 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts at Citi Field but he didn't look sharp from the start.
Reyes led off the first with a single, giving him a 10-game hitting streak. An out later, Beltran lined a double to center for the quick lead. Daniel Murphy singled and Angel Pagan followed with a sacrifice fly.
In the second, Turner had an RBI single and Reyes walked and scored on a wild pitch, sliding home just ahead of Hudson's attempt to make the tag.
Hudson missed a start May 25 with back stiffness and gave up two runs — one earned — in his previous outing. But he gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings against the Mets.
Dickey looked much more comfortable in his second start since partially tearing the plantar fascia in his right foot. His knuckleball was floating and darting and fooling the Braves. He allowed just three hits through five innings and no runner past second until McCann homered.
Manny Acosta put two on in the ninth, and closer Francisco Rodriguez came on. He gave up a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Diory Hernandez to cut the lead to 6-4. But Rodriguez struck out Eric Hinske and Joe Mather to end it with Chipper Jones on deck. Jones was given a scheduled night off.
In the fourth inning fans chanted "Don't trade Reyes!" before the All-Star shortstop, who can become a free agent after the season, hit an RBI double to left-center to make it 5-0.
Ruben Tejada had an RBI single in the fifth.
NOTES: Braves right-hander Kris Medlen (elbow surgery) cut short a bullpen session Tuesday. Fredi Gonzalez said there was no reason to be concerned. ... The Mets had 10 hits, only two for extra bases. ... The Mets start a 10-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday. ... The first soccer game at Citi Field will take place Tuesday, with Greece playing Ecuador.
