Braves  15    Mets  2

Atlanta Braves (62-57) at New York Mets (56-63), 7:10 p.m.

Sports Network | August 19, 2009

(Sports Network) - If the Atlanta Braves have any intentions on reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2005, they must start winning on a more consistent basis. They will try to do just that tonight in the second portion of a three-game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Atlanta has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and suffered a 9-4 setback to the Mets last night in the opener of this series. Matt Diaz homered and had three RBI and Adam LaRoche drove in the other run for the Braves, who slipped to four games off the lead in the NL Wild Card race.

Derek Lowe started for the Braves and allowed eight runs on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. All of those runs came in the decisive fourth inning as Atlanta blew a 4-0 advantage.

"I was leaving every single ball flat, there wasn't a lot of positive," said Lowe. "We had a lead...it just seemed like we couldn't stop the bleeding. It's over with and we'll try to win tomorrow."

Jair Jurrjens gets the call for the Braves tonight and is 0-1 in his last four starts since a personal three-game winning streak. He did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Friday, although he tossed seven strong innings of two-run ball before the bullpen blew the lead.

Jurrjens, a right-hander, is 1-0 in two meetings with the Mets this season and is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five career starts against them.

New York has won two of three and four of its last six games, but is 10 games behind Colorado for the NL Wild Card lead. Luis Castillo and Gary Sheffield both had three hits and two RBI for New York, which got three hits and an RBI from former Brave Jeff Francoeur. Fernando Tatis and Omir Santos each had two hits and knocked in a run in the win.

"We were sneaking some hits in and a I think he (Lowe) was tired, we were able to take advantage of it," Francoeur noted after the game.

Oliver Perez started for the Mets and was reached for four runs in five innings, but managed to record his third win of the season.

Mets starter Bobby Parnell will try for a second straight win when he takes the ball this evening. Parnell won his last outing in a 3-0 triumph over San Francisco on Friday, as he tossed six shutout innings and allowed three hits with seven strikeouts.

Parnell, who is 3-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 56 games (2 starts) in 2009, has not allowed a run in seven career relief appearances against Atlanta. The right- hander has pitched 4 2/3 innings against the Braves.

Atlanta and New York have split 10 matchups this season.