NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- John Smoltz set a National League record with his 54th save Friday night, recording the final four outs as the Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader.
With rookie Ty Wigginton representing the tying on first base with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Smoltz caught Mike Piazza looking at a third strike. It was Piazza's first four-strikeout game since Sept. 13, 2000.
Smoltz pitched in and out of trouble in the ninth, putting runners on first and third before getting pinch-hitter John Valentin to fly out and end the game.
Randy Myers set the record with 53 saves for the Chicago Cubs in 1993 and San Diego's Trevor Hoffman tied the mark in 1998. Bobby Thigpen holds the major league mark with 57 saves for the 1990 Chicago White Sox.
The win clinched home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs for Atlanta.
Vinny Castilla had two hits and two RBI for the Braves. With Atlanta holding a 1-0 lead in the second, he hit the first pitch he saw from John Thomson (9-14) over the center field fence for his 11th homer. After the Mets answered with a run in the third, Castilla singled in Andruw Jones.
The Braves third baseman had not driven in a run since a two-RBI game on Sept. 14 at Florida. Castilla, who is batting .231, had been 10 for 56 against the Mets this season.
Greg Maddux (16-6) pitched five solid innings in his final start before the playoffs. He allowed one run and five hits with four strikeouts, walking none while throwing 40 of 53 pitches for strikes.
The Braves clinched the season series with the Mets, winning for the 10th time in 16 meetings. Atlanta has won the last five season series and 10 of the last 12.
Chipper Jones picked up his 97th RBI with a single in the first. Jones is trying to reach 100 RBI for the seventh straight season.
Mo Vaughn had two hits for New York and is batting .311 in September.
