ATLANTA, July 13 (UPI) -- A three-run homer by David Ross staked Atlanta to a five-run lead in the third inning Friday and the Braves then fought off the New York Mets 7-5.
New York got back in the game with a four-run fourth, but the Mets could never catch up while suffering their third loss in four games. The Braves have won five in a row.
Atlanta sent eight men to the plate in the first inning against Chris Young (2-3), but could score only twice. Jason Heyward drove in a run with an infield single and scored later in the inning on a bases-loaded walk.
Young then gave up a double to Chipper Jones and a single to Freddie Freeman in the third before Ross hit his fourth home run of the season.
New York's four-run inning featured a two-run single by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who then scored on a single by Ruben Tejada.
The Mets' offense ran out of steam and Atlanta added to its lead in the sixth on a solo homer by Jones and an RBI single from Dan Uggla.
Atlanta starter Tim Hudson gave up the four New York runs in the fourth and put the first two runners on in the fifth before being replaced by Cristhian Martinez.
Martinez (4-1) escaped the jam and wound up being credited with the victory. Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 26th save.
