The New York Mets start the second half with a loss in Atlanta

The New York Mets were defeated by the Atlanta Braves by the score of 7-5 on Friday night. The game took place at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a weird game with a rain delay and also a blackout delay. Chris Young started for the Mets and did not pitch well. Tim Hudson also struggled in the start for the Braves. The bullpens for each team were pretty good. Ruben Tejada, David Wright and Scott Hairston all led the offense. Chipper Jones, Freddie Freeman and Hudson led the Braves offense. 
Young pitched three innings giving up six hits and five runs. He walked three and struck out two and took his third loss of the season. Miguel Batista pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up a hit and walking four, Josh Edgin pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up two hits and two runs and struck out three and Ramon Ramirez pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. Tim Byrdak pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up two walks and Pedro Beato pitched 1/3 of an inning walking and striking out a batter. Hudson pitched four innings giving up eight hits and four runs with two walks and three strikeouts. Cristhian Martinez won the game pitching an inning giving up a walk and striking out two, Kris Medlen pitched two innings giving up a walk and and striking out three and Eric O’Flaherty pitched an inning giving up two hits and a run and he struck out one. Craig Kimbrel saved his 26^th game of the season. He pitched an inning giving up a hit and struck out three.

Tejada had two hits and an RBI, Wright had two hits and Ike Davis had a hit and drew two walks. Lucas Duda drew two walks, Hairston had two hits and an RBI and Kirk Nieuwenhuis had a hit and two RBI. Ronny Cedeno had a hit, Josh Thole had a hit and Andres Torres had a hit and an RBI. Wright, Hairston and Cedeno each had a double. The Mets were 4-12 with runners in scoring position and they left 10 men on base.

Michael Bourn had a hit, Jason Heyward had a hit, an RBI and drew two walks and Chipper Jones had two hits, an RBI and drew a walk. Freeman had two hits and drew two walks, Dan Uggla had a hit, an RBI and drew two walks. David Ross had a hit, four RBI and drew three walks, Eric Hinske drew a walk and Hudson had two hits. Bourn, Jones, Hudson and Freeman each had a double. Ross and Jones each hit a homerun. The Braves were 4-15 with runners in scoring position and they left 12 men on base. Heyward and Uggla each had a stolen base and Heyward was caught stealing.

The Mets record fell to 46-41 and the Braves record improved to 47-39. The two teams will play game two of their three game series on Saturday afternoon.