Mets Make Early Statement

The New York Mets are having fun this year at Turner Field.

Rick Reed pitched a three-hitter and delivered a two-run single in a three-run second inning as the Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves, 7-1, Thursday night to win their season-opening series.

The Mets took two of three after having lost 21 of their previous 27 games at Atlanta, the team that has edged them for the National League East title the last three years.

Atlanta had won seven consecutive home series against the Mets since July 10-13, 1997.

“We’ve struggled here. No two ways about it. We haven’t had a good time here,” said Reed, in his first game since re-signing with the Mets for $21.75 million over three years. He threw only 95 pitches, 71 strikes.

“This gives us confidence. I think we learned we can come in here and play.”

He walked none and struck out three in his first complete game since Oct. 2, 1999, when he defeated Pittsburgh, 7-0, also on a three-hitter. In 30 starts last season, Reed had no complete games.

“It was all Reed tonight,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “We didn’t hit three balls hard all night.”

Rey Ordonez, who sat out most of last season after breaking his left forearm in May, added two run-scoring singles and Jay Payton went three for five as the Mets had 13 hits.

Atlanta’s lone run off Reed came in the sixth when pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart opened with a double and scored on a groundout by Quilvio Veras.

Met outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo got his first start and went one for four with a walk, scored two runs and drove in a run in the ninth on a groundout.

Houston 8, Milwaukee 2--The Brewers’ Ben Sheets, who starred for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at last year’s Sydney Games, gave up five runs and six hits in six innings at Houston as he lost his major league debut.

“Between the adrenaline and trying to pitch, I lost it somewhere,” said Sheets, who left 20-30 tickets for family friends. “I’ve got to try to stay relaxed and not try to do too much. I finished on a strong note, that was a positive.”

Richard Hidalgo hit a two-run homer and Chris Truby got his third homer in as many games for Houston, which is 3-0 for the first time in 13 years.

“For his first big league start, he was very aggressive,” Truby said of Sheets. “At certain points, he might have lost a little bit of his command, but he came back with his fastball. When that works, he can get a way with a lot.”

Sheets (0-1), the 10th player picked in the 1999 amateur draft, pitched three games for the U.S. in the 2000 Olympics, including a three-hit shutout of Cuba in the gold medal game.

Milwaukee headed home for today’s opening of Miller Park with an 0-4 record, the worst in the major leagues.

Wade Miller (1-0) struck out a career-high 11 for the Astros, giving up two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Colorado 11, St. Louis 2--Pedro Astacio gave the Rockies their third consecutive solid outing in completing a season-opening sweep of the Cardinals at Denver.

Ron Gant and Todd Helton each hit three-run homers for Colorado.

Astacio (1-0), following Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle, struck out 10 in eight innings, giving up one run, six hits and no walks. Colorado’s three starters gave up four runs in the series for a 1.69 earned-run average.

Matt Morris (0-1) gave up 10 runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings.

Chicago 2, Montreal 1--Kevin Tapani gave up two hits in seven shutout innings and struck out nine, and Rondell White drove in a run against his old team at Chicago as the Cubs got their first victory of the season.

“He did it as well as anybody today,” Cub Manager Don Baylor said of Tapani. “He just kind of breezed along.”

Jeff Fassero gave up a two-out homer in the ninth to Andy Tracy, but picked up his first save since June 30, 1993, when he was with Montreal.

“It’s a good way to start the season,” said Tapani, who had seen teammates Jon Lieber and Kerry Wood pitch impressively in their first starts.

“I didn’t want to be the weak link. I wanted to join those guys,” Tapani said.

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 1--Dmitri Young doubled with the bases loaded in the third off Jimmy Anderson (0-1) at Cincinnati.

Barry Larkin walked twice and scored, ending a solid series. In his new role as leadoff hitter, Larkin set up the offense by reaching base in 13 of 18 plate appearances.

Elmer Dessens (1-0) gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings, and John Riedling pitched the ninth for his second career save.