Derrek Lee hits grand slam to lift Atlanta Braves to victory over the Mets 6-3

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Derrek Lee hits grand slam to lift Atlanta Braves to victory over the Mets 6-3

Derrek Lee proved that the trade that brought him over from the Chicago Cubs earlier in the season was a great idea Sunday when he hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-3 win over the New York Mets.

“There’s no secret. These are big games,” Lee said. “This is the best part of baseball.”

With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh, Lee hit his second home run since joining the Braves, and his eighteenth on the season to put the Braves up 6-2. Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel pitched the final two innings to preserve the win
and give Atlanta the sweep in the three-game series.

Derek Lowe got his third win in a row after failing to win in his previous four starts. After giving up a home run to David Wright to give the Mets a 2-0 lead, Lowe settled down. Over six innings of work he only gave up four hits and two earned runs while walking
one and striking out two.

The Atlanta offence had plenty of base runners on prior to Lee’s home run in the seventh, but failed to convert most of them into runs. In the first six innings the Braves got eight hits and two walks off Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey, but was only able
to score two runs.

New York has made a habit of giving up grand slams this season; Lee’s was number 12 for the season. They have also failed to hit one of their own this year.

“That’s unbelievable,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “Not to have one is as unbelievable as giving up 12.”

With the win the Braves improved to 86-64 on the season to stay within three games of the division leading Philadelphia Phillies. They have a two-and-a-half game lead over the San Diego Padres for the National League wild card.

The NL East will become even more interesting over the next three days when the Braves and Phillies meet for a three-game series in Philadelphia. A sweep by Atlanta will pull the Braves into a tie for the NL East lead with less than two weeks to go in the regular
season.

Jair Jurrjens is scheduled to take the mound for Atlanta on Monday with Cole Hamels set to do so for Philadelphia.