Braves conquer Mets

Braves conquer Mets, Santana
Teixeira's two-run home run in the eighth clinches victory for Atlanta, Smoltz (1-0).
Detroit News wire services
ATLANTA -- John Smoltz is back -- and so is that pesky knot behind his shoulder.

Smoltz (Lansing Waverly) pitched five scoreless innings, Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves beat Johan Santana and the New York Mets, 3-1, on Sunday to complete a two-game sweep of the rain-shortened series.

Santana (0-1) gave up only one run in seven innings, but Teixeira's eighth-inning drive off Aaron Heilman gave Atlanta a 3-0 lead.

Smoltz (1-0) was making his first start after opening the season on the disabled list because of tightness in the back of his right shoulder. He again felt a knot in the trapezoid muscle and left after giving up only two hits and two walks.

"It's all right. I just didn't want to take a chance," said Smoltz, who struck out six. "This is my first test. I didn't fail it.

"It kills me to not go back out there for the sixth and possibly the seventh but I'm proud that at least I was able to say it's getting stiff, and not make it worse. ... I'm a seven- and eight-inning guy and that's what it'll be this year, but for the first start, I'll take this."

Braves manager Bobby Cox said he was confident Smoltz will make his next start.

"It is an important game but it is (Smoltz's) first game of the year," Cox said. "He'll make his next start."

Rafael Soriano allowed Ryan Church's two-out RBI single in the ninth before finishing for his first save. With runners on first and second, Teixeira made a diving stop of a sharp grounder by Brian Schneider to end the game.

"I was playing one step toward the line," Teixeira said. "I just didn't want a cheap groundball to get down that line. Brian hit it good, but I just wanted to try to smother it and get the out."

Santana, making his first career start at Turner Field, gave up seven hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter.

"They took advantage of a couple of pitches," Santana said.

Yay Smoltz!

He's closing in on 3000 K's. 20ish more!

again, we rue the day we trade away another player.