Sheets Gets ‘W’ In Return; Surging Braves Sweep Mets

Ben Sheets befuddled the Mets in  his first start in the majors in nearly two years as the Atlanta Braves earned a 6-1 win over Johan Santana, sweeping the three game series and extending their winning streak to a season high seven games.

Sheets (1-0) hadn't pitched in the big leagues since July 19, 2010 when he tore a flexor in his elbow with the Oakland Athletics but allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out five in six shutout innings on Sunday.

The Braves offense jumped on Santana for six runs in the fifth inning, capped by a huge three-run homer from Freddie Freeman.

Chipper Jones had a pair of hits, while Jason Heyward, Martin Prado and Michael Bourne each drove in a run.

In the midst of Atlanta's big inning, Mets pitching coach Dan Worthen was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor, presumably about a close pitch that the Met ace didn't get called in his favor - the loss dropped Santana to 6-6.

New York's RBI came off the bat of Andres Torres, who had two hits on the afternoon.For the Mets it was their fourth straight defeat, slipping to 46-43 as they prepare to open a series with the NL East leading Nationals on Tuesday in Washington, whom they trail by 6.5 games.