Game 114: Mets vs. Braves @ Shea Stadium

El Duque takes on the Braves tonight in a great match-up against their ace, John Smoltz.

The Good: El Duque pitched great, the offense was clutch, and the Mets showed passion. After leading off the game with a single and stealing second base, Jose Reyes put the Mets up early on David Wright's sac-fly to center. They would hold that lead until the sixth inning and would battle back in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Jose Reyes would pop out to right for the second out of the inning. Luis Castillo would then deliver a huge hit with a broken-bat-single to center that tied the game at three.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Moises Alou clubbed a two-strike, no out homer to left off of Rafael Soriano to put the Mets ahead for good. Heilman would record his seventh win and Billy Wagner would escape a bases loaded, no-out jam to save the game (Francouer FC5-2, Andruw Jones 4-6-3).

The Bad: Nothing really, aside from Pedro getting smacked around in the minors. El Duque gave up some late runs and Billy Wagner almost blew it, but almost doesn't count.

Overall: Big win.

Notes: Reyes' steal was his 54th of the season. Luis Castillo is hitting about .350 since joining the Mets.

2 Cents: Alou does it again; it seems whenever he does something bad, he redeems himself.....then he gives it right back sooner or later. El Duque showed passion, Castillo showed fire, and the Mets were all into it on this night...I liked what I saw.

Final Score: Mets 3, Braves 2. Record: 64-49.