How They Scored

ATLANTA 3RD:   M Giles walked.  G Sheffield walked, M Giles to second.  
C Jones homered to center, M Giles and G Sheffield scored.  A Jones reached on 
infield single to third.  R Fick struck out swinging.  V Castilla singled to 
shallow right center, A Jones to third.  H Blanco grounded out to catcher, 
V Castilla to second.  G Maddux grounded out to third. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) 
NY METS 0, ATLANTA 3.

ATLANTA 4TH:   P Feliciano relieved A Heilman. R Furcal popped out to 
shortstop.  M Giles struck out swinging.  G Sheffield walked.  G Sheffield 
stole second. C Jones singled to right center, G Sheffield scored.  A Jones 
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Jones out at second. (1 Run, 
1 Hit, 0 Errors)  NY METS 0, ATLANTA 4.

NY METS 5TH:   M Piazza homered to center.  J Phillips grounded out to 
shortstop.  T Wigginton lined out to shortstop.  J McEwing flied out to deep 
left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)  NY METS 1, ATLANTA 4.

Game Story

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux restored 
some normalcy at Turner Field.

Jones homered and drove in all four runs and Maddux pitched six
efficient innings for his 286th career win as the Atlanta Braves
began a new winning streak against the New York Mets with a 4-1
victory.

Atlanta was coming off Tuesday's 6-5 loss that snapped a
seven-game winning streak vs. New York.  But Jones and Maddux,
two players who have thrived against the Mets, got the Braves
back on track.

"We wanted to come out and right the ship tonight," Jones said.
"Hopefully, tomorrow we go out and try to win the series."

Jones gave Maddux all the offense he needed with a three-run
homer in the third inning.  He also singled in a run and is
hitting .412 (21-for-51) with five homers and 14 RBI in 14 games
since his father helped him with his swing on Atlanta's last
homestand.

"I've gotten a lot of opportunities the last week or so," Jones
said.  "Tonight is a good example.  They pitched around (Gary)
Sheffield.  I came up with guys in scoring position and came
through twice."

Jones has a .347 career average against the Mets with 30 homers
and 89 RBI.

"You can't explain some things like that," he said.  "Certain
parks, you see the ball well.  In my ballpark, I'm comfortable.
Shea Stadium is one of the road stadiums I like hitting in."

Maddux (13-10) allowed one run - a homer by Mike Piazza - and
three hits to tie Robin Roberts for 24th place on the all-time
wins list.  The four-time Cy Young Award winner struck out five
without a walk, working around a 29-minute rain delay in the
third inning.

"It kind of did (affect me) with the rain delay and the pitching
change," Maddux said.  "I had a hard time getting loose.  You
tire quicker.  It takes a couple of innings off."

Maddux threw just 64 pitches and raised his career mark against
New York to 32-16.  The 32 wins are his highest total against
any opponent.

"Probably just for the fact that I have a lot of starts against
them," he said.  "I don't think there's anything to it, but I've
had a lot of starts against them.  Period."

"Greg pitched a great game," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.  "He
had trouble getting loose the last two innings.  It was time to
get him."

Kevin Gryboski got two outs in the seventh and Will Cunnane
worked 1 1/3 hitless innings.  With All-Star closer John Smoltz
going on the disabled list before the game, Kent Mercker gave up
a hit and a walk in the ninth before recording his first save
since August 29, 1992.

"Anytime you can pitch in a close game and have the lead and
have that team win, it's always fun," Mercker said.  "The goal
is to get three outs before they tie the score.  It wasn't
pretty tonight.  If I get another chance to do that, I'll be a
little more relaxed."

Rookie Aaron Heilman (2-6) did not come out after the delay,
allowing three runs, five hits and four walks in three innings
while striking out three.  He was trying for a second straight
win.

Heilman stranded four runners in the first two innings before
his inability to find the strike zone cost him.  He walked
Marcus Giles and Sheffield to open the third and Jones launched
a 1-1 offering over the center field fence for his 23rd homer.

"That was a big swing," Jones said.  "It gave 'Doggie' the
cushion that he needed."

"I battled out of some situations, but I should not have put
myself in those situations in the first place," Heilman said.

Reliever Pedro Feliciano got two quick outs in the fourth, but
Sheffield walked again, stole second and scored on Jones' base
hit to make it 4-0.

Mike Piazza accounted for the Mets' offense with a solo homer in
the fifth.  It was his second in as many days, 11th this season
and 347th as a catcher, leaving him four shy of Carlton Fisk's
major league record.

"Slider, kind of over the plate," Piazza said.  "I was fortunate
tonight.  I was able to hit the ball the other way."

The Mets threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with two
outs before Cunnane struck out pinch hitter Tony Clark.  They
had runners at first and second in the ninth, but Mercker
retired Jason Phillips on a lineout to third, then got Ty
Wigginton to bounce into a fielder's choice.

"Cunnane did an unbelievable job on Clark," Cox said.  "He looks
good, he looks very good.  Every time out, he's pitched the
ball well.  We like him."