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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ATLANTA (AP) -- The New York Mets still haven't figured out a way
to win at Turner Field.
Greg Maddux extended his scoreless streak to 29 1/3 innings, the
longest of his career, and the Braves once again dominated the Mets
in Atlanta, winning 6-3 Monday night.
|  | | Judging from his latest performances, Greg Maddux is ready to pitch in the postseason. |
"It's one of those things," Maddux said. "It's surprising
because they're a good team. There's just no way to explain it."
Maddux (18-8), coming off consecutive four-hit shutouts of
Arizona and Florida, allowed five hits in seven innings, walked
none and struck out one to lower his ERA to 3.00 and beat Mike
Hampton (13-10).
"It's just luck, flat out luck," Maddux said. "That's how
this game is. Sometimes they hit the ball and it goes right at
somebody. That's how it goes when things are going right."
Maddux left with a 6-0 lead and after throwing only 83 pitches.
Todd Zeile hit a one-hop liner off his left calf in the fifth.
"It didn't really bother me. It's no big deal," Maddux said.
Atlanta, seeking its ninth straight division title, has won 19
of 21 games against the Mets at Turner Field since 1997, including
last year's playoffs.
"This is this year and this team," Mets manager Bobby
Valentine said. "They have beat us three times in this ballpark,
and we have two more left."
The Braves increased their NL East lead to four games over
second-place New York -- their widest margin since Aug. 8 -- by
winning the opener of a three-game series. The teams play three
games in New York next week.
The Mets, who held a one-half game lead over the Braves entering
September, have staggered to a 6-11 record this month. They remained five games ahead of Arizona in the wild-card race.
Atlanta, meanwhile has gone 10-6 in September, winning three
straight and five of six.
Hampton allowed five runs, six hits and five walks in six
innings.
"Maddux is pitching incredible right now," he said. "He's on
a roll. He's a master. He didn't make any mistakes. It's tough to
swallow. They're the team it seems like we always end up facing."
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the third when Andres Galarraga
doubled, took third on a groundout and scored on a squeeze bunt by
Walt Weiss.
Atlanta broke it open in the fourth on RBI singles by Chipper
Jones and Brian Jordan, and Weiss' run-scoring groundout.
Galarraga hit an RBI double in the fifth, and Jordan homered off
Pat Mahomes in the seventh.
New York scored three runs in the eighth on Derek Bell's solo
homer off Kerry Ligtenberg and Robin Ventura's two-run single off
Mike Remlinger.
John Rocker retired pinch-hitter Bubba Trammell on an
inning-ending popup and finished for his 23rd save in 25 chances.
Game notes
Mike Piazza went 1-for-4 and is in a 9-for-53 slide (.170).
... The Braves lead the season series 5-3. ... Hampton was hit on
the right wrist in the third inning by a Galarraga liner that
knocked the glove off his hand, but he threw Galarraga out at
first. ... Maddux' previous best scoreless string was 26 innings
with the Chicago Cubs from May 6-17, 1988. ... The crowd of 41,937
gave the Braves a season attendance total of 3,000,164, the sixth
time the club has gone over 3 million and fourth straight.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Klapisch: Mets second-fiddle to ... guess who?
Klapisch: Time for excuses is over
RECAPS
Oakland 12
Baltimore 3
Detroit 5
Chi. White Sox 2
Cleveland 2
NY Yankees 0
Seattle 4
Tampa Bay 3
Minnesota 3
Texas 1
Montreal 11
Florida 4
Pittsburgh 6
Philadelphia 5
Atlanta 6
NY Mets 3
Milwaukee 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Los Angeles 2
Arizona 1
Cincinnati 7
San Francisco 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Andruw Jones is satisfied with John Rocker's pitching performance against the Mets.
wav: 71 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Chipper Jones discusses facing Mike Hampton when ahead in the count and a possible meeting down the road.
wav: 183 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brian Jordan gives credit to teammate Rafael Furcal for his patience at the plate and speed on the bases.
wav: 96 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Chipper Jones and the Braves are always pumped up to play the Mets.
wav: 94 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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