Pelfrey shuts Braves down in three-hitter

By Mike Fitzpatrick (17)

Thursday, August 21, 2008
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

NEW YORK - Mike Pelfrey pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and David Wright homered to lead the New York Mets past the sloppy Atlanta Braves, 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Pelfrey (12-8) also delivered at the plate, hitting an RBI single in a five-run first inning, when the NL East leaders took advantage of two Atlanta errors.

Daniel Murphy hit a two-run single, and Fernando Tatis also drove in a run to help the surging Mets, who have won eight of nine and 11 of 14. They remained 11/2 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia.

Braves starter Jair Jurrjens (11-9) gave up six runs - four earned - and six hits in five innings.

Pelfrey walked three and struck out three in his 42nd major league start. He threw 108 pitches and retired his final 11 batters in a game that lasted just 2 hours, 8 minutes.

The key inning for Pelfrey was the sixth, when Atlanta loaded the bases with nobody out on a bunt single followed by two walks. But the 24-year-old right-hander limited the damage.

One run scored on a double-play grounder by cleanup batter Brian McCann, and another on a wild pitch that cut New York's lead to 6-3. Pelfrey got Mark Kotsay on an inning-ending flyout and did not allow another base runner the rest of the way.

The Braves have lost nine of 10, falling a season-worst 15 games under .500.

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