Braves meet their match in Mets

ATLANTA -- Carlos Beltran and the New York Mets just about put away the Braves with a three-game sweep in Atlanta.

Beltran hit two homers, including his third grand slam in July, and New York completed its first sweep of at least three games in Atlanta in 21 years by beating its longtime nemesis, 10-6, yesterday.

With the loss, the Braves fell 15 games behind the first-place Mets in the NL East.

The Mets swept a four-game set in Atlanta from July 4-7, 1985. Their last sweep of any series was a two-game set May 1-2, 1989.

The Mets are 8-4 against the Braves this year, including a 5-1 mark at Turner Field. It is a notable turnaround from last year, when the Mets were 1-8 at Atlanta. Entering the season, the Mets' all-time record in Atlanta was 110-151.

``We came in here and did what we wanted to do, and then some," said Mets starting pitcher Tom Glavine, the former longtime Braves pitcher. ``We haven't had success here over the years. To come in here with this type of setting with them wanting to get back in the race, sweeping them is certainly huge in that regard."

Beltran's second inning slam was the Mets' major league record-tying sixth of the month. The Montreal Expos hit six grand slams in April 1996 and Cleveland matched the record in May 1999. He is the ninth player to hit three slams in a month and the first since Milwaukee's Devon White in May 2001.

Beltran added another homer, his 32d, off Jason Shiell in the fifth inning. He had four homers in the three-game series.

``I've seen enough of him for my career," said Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche of Beltran.

Beltran has eight homers and 18 RBIs in eight games against the Braves this season.

``Carlos has been unconscious," said Mets manager Willie Randolph. ``He stepped up big-time for us.

Beltran is hitting .282 with 32 homers and an NL-leading 94 RBIs.

The sweep left the Braves (48-56) eight games below .500.

Delgado had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Reyes had three hits and scored two runs for the Mets, who had a season-high 19 hits.

The Mets led, 7-0, following Beltran's second-inning slam, but still Glavine couldn't stay in the game long enough to qualify for a win.

Glavine, who has two losses and five no-decisions in his last seven starts, gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in only four innings, his shortest outing of the season. He walked three batters while matching his season high for runs allowed.

Darren Oliver (4-0) pitched a scoreless fifth inning while relieving Glavine.

Billy Wagner recorded the final four outs for his 22d save in 26 chances. Wagner struck out LaRoche with runners on first and second to end the eighth inning.

Beltran's slam knocked Braves starter Chuck James (4-2) out of the game.

James suffered his shortest start and his second straight loss after winning his first four starts. The lefthander gave up seven hits and seven runs with two walks. He was lifted after giving up singles to Glavine and Reyes and walking Paul Lo Duca before Beltran's slam, a line-drive shot to left field.

``You give up seven runs the first two innings, you're gonna get beat, in most cases," said Braves manager Bobby Cox.

The Braves scored three runs in the second. Willy Aybar, who had four hits while batting leadoff in his first start since coming to the Braves in a trade from Los Angeles Friday night, hit a two-run single, driving in Brian McCann and LaRoche. Aybar scored on a single by Edgar Renteria.

The Mets added a run in the third on Delgado's bases-loaded walk from Shiell.

The Braves cut the lead to 8-6 with three runs in the fourth. Aybar and Andruw Jones scored on Jeff Francoeur's single. McCann followed with a double to drive in Francoeur.

Beltran's second homer pushed the lead to 9-6 in the fifth inning.