Right fielder Lucas Duda belted his first and second home runs of the season while catcher Josh Thole collected the game-winning hit in the bottom of the fifth-inning Saturday to help the New York Mets down the Atlanta Braves, 4-2, at Citi Field. The Mets (2-0) will have a chance for a season-opening, series sweep on Sunday, when Jon Niese (NYM) faces Mike Monor at 1:10 p.m.
Starting pitcher R.A. Dickey pitched a solid six innings allowing two runs, five hits while striking out three batters to collect his first win of the 2012 season. Relief pitchers Bobby Parnell, Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco each pitched scoreless inning to cement the victory. Francisco earned his second saves of the season.
Third basemen Davis Wright continued his solid start to the season by going 3-for-5 with a home run, which helped give the Mets a 2-0 lead in bottom of the fourth inning.
The Braves' Martin Prado smashed a two-run homer in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2, but Thole answered in the bottom half with an RBI single that drove in Ike Davis, who reached on a walk with one out.
Atlanta starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens was created with the loss pitching just 4 1/3-inngins allowing three runs on seven hits.
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