Niese pitches Mets over Braves and Sheets 6-5

New York Mets' Johan Santana walks off the field after being taken out of the baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Citi Field in New York, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. Santana gave up eight hits and eight earned runs in his first start since July 20. (AP Photos/Henny Ray Abrams)

By Ronald Blum

AP Sports Writer / August 12, 2012

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NEW YORK—Jonathon Niese pitched six-hit ball over eight innings, David Wright sparked the offense with a pair of doubles against Ben Sheets, and the New York Mets just hung on to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 Sunday night and salvage the finale of a three-game series.

A night after the Braves battered Johan Santana, Niese (9-6) tamed Atlanta's offense and stopped yet another slide by the Mets, who have faded from contention following the All-Star break. Niese matched the second-longest outing of his big league career, allowing one run, striking out six and walking two.

With the Mets ahead 6-1, the Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth against rookie Josh Edgin. Atlanta scored four runs before Jon Rauch struck out Jason Heyward to end the game and earn his second save.