THIS ONE HURTS

Braves 2, Mets 1 (ATL: 51-40; NYM 45-45, 7 GB)

If I had the capability to put pictures up along with my headlines, there'd be a picture of THE GREATEST BALLPLAYER WHO EVER LIVED, Jose Reyes, next to that one. Because they go hand in hand, no pun intended.

Also, while we're on the subject of headlines, the Mets will not lose a game in the standings (the division standings, anyway), because the Nationals just lost on a Mike Stanton balk with a man on third in the tenth inning. The headlines in Milwaukee will probably read "Balk Off". Or they would if I was in charge.

I need to make this Mets write-up quick, because first of all, I need to get up early tomorrow, and secondly, no one reads on the weekends anyway, so I don't want to waste my "A" material.

Future Hall of Famer David Wright put the Mets on the board with a solo homer, career homer number 28, in the second inning. Tom Glavine actually pitched really, really well against the Braves, and left with the score 1-1 through 7. Roberto Hernandez took over in the 8th, having not given up a run since May 25th, covering 17 appearances. You just know after the announcers say that that he's going to give up a run. He did, but almost got out of a jam. The run scored on a hot shot up the middle, which gave Reyes an in-between hop, and bounced off a finger on his right hand. Reyes had to get the finger taped up, but he stayed in the game, and the Braves did no further damage. Tough way to give up a run, though.

It stayed 2-1 into the 9th, and the Mets had their big guns coming up. Cliff Floyd led off with a single up the middle. Then Mike Piazza hit a ball hard, but it was right to the second baseman, playing him perfectly up the middle. Double play, which is too bad. I think the homer the night before gave Piazza some confidence in that spot. He swung the bat well Friday night. David Wright then ended the game with a flyout to deep right field. He just missed a homer. So we have to hope for three out of four for the Mets this weekend. A split would be just OK.

Victor Zambrano goes Saturday against Tim Hudson, and Pedro Martinez* goes Sunday against Mike Hampton. Both Braves pitchers are probables...and are both coming off the DL to make the starts.

An update on Carlos Beltran*'s second half - he went 0-for-4, a night after going 4-for-4.

THE KID'S KIDS: Rain messed with Doug Mientkiewicz (2-for-3) and the rest of the Gulf Coast Mets again, shortening the first game of a doubleheader with the Dodgers to 6-and-a-half innings, and raining out the second game. Too bad that means the first game was official - the Dodgers beat the Mets 2-1. Weird box score here. The Mets' starter, Riggan, pitched an inning and struck out the side, then Harrington gave up just one hit, but the 2 runs, and the Mets lost. The Mets are now 13-5, still 3-and-a-half games up.