BRAVES BEAT RIVAL METS

Starting the post-all star second half of the season on the right foot, the Atlanta Braves, behind key hits by Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones, defeated the rival Mets 5-3. The Braves pushed New York deeper into 4th place in the National League East and remained 6 games out as the Phillies won in Florida. A bad day for the Mets was topped off by news that Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes will not be returning for at least 2 1/2 weeks. Above, Brian McCann rumbled from first base on a double by Matt Diaz, beating Brian Schneider’s tag to tie the score in the fourth.