Smoltz, Teixeira Lift Braves Past Mets

Johan Santana was sharp. The New York Mets just couldn't do much against John Smoltz and the Braves bullpen. Smoltz pitched five scoreless innings in his season debut and Atlanta beat New York 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, reports AP.

The difference was Mark Teixeira’s two-run homer off Mets reliever Aaron Heilman in the eighth. Teixeira's shot just over the wall in right field drove in Chipper Jones, who walked with two outs. Smoltz (1-0) allowed only two hits and two walks. Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman and Peter Moylan each pitched one scoreless inning and Rafael Soriano earned his first save.