Braves at Marlins
When: 7:10 tonight
Where: Miami
TV, radio: SportSouth; 102.9 FM
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com, 404-577-9100
Web site: www.atlantabraves.com
ATLANTA — Livan Hernandez earned only his fourth win in 25 career starts against Atlanta and the New York Mets held off the Braves 4-3 on Tuesday night to complete a rare series sweep at Turner Field.
The Mets swept two games for their first sweep of any series in Atlanta since winning each of three games in 2007. It was their first sweep of a two-game series in Atlanta since May 1-2, 1989.
David Wright and Ramon Castro had run-scoring doubles in the third inning off Kenshin Kawakami (1-4), who lost his fourth straight start. Carlos Delgado had two hits, including a two-run single in the ninth.
Delgado dropped Omar Infante’s infield pop fly in the ninth that could have ended the game, opening the way for Atlanta to score two unearned runs off Francisco Rodriguez.
With two runners on base and the Mets leading 4-1 with two outs in the ninth, Delgado’s error allowed Kelly Johnson to score from second. Yunel Escobar, who had three hits, followed with a run-scoring single to cut the lead to 4-3.
Chipper Jones flied out to right field to end the game.
The Mets led 2-1 before scoring two run in the ninth with the help of Jones’ throwing error.
Hernandez (2-1) gave up seven hits and one run in 6 1-3 innings. He improved to 4-15 in his career against the Braves with his first win against Atlanta since June 5, 2006 while with the Nationals.
Hernandez was helped by three double plays which ended the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Rodriguez earned his seventh save.
The Mets, who went 1-8 in Atlanta last season, pulled off the sweep in their first visit to Turner Field this season.
The Braves (11-15) fell a season-worst four games below .500.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel brought in right-hander Bobby Parnell after Hernandez gave up a single to Jeff Francoeur and a walk to Jordan Schafer with one out in the seventh. Parnell struck out pinch-hitter Greg Norton before giving up Martin Prado’s RBI double.
The Mets stretched their lead off Mike Gonzalez in the ninth. Jose Reyes singled and advanced to third on Jones’ wild throw to second after fielding Daniel Murphy’s grounder. Following an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, Delgado’s single up the middle drove in Reyes and Murphy.
Beltran had two hits and scored on Wright’s third-inning double.
Beltran’s third-inning single gave him a career-best 16-game hitting streak. He has reached base in each of the Mets’ 25 games, leaving him tied with Kevin McReynolds for the second-longest streak to open a season in Mets history.