Amazin's take 2 of 3 from Braves @ Launching Pad

8/18 - Fulton County Stadium

Randy Jones vs Rick Mahler

Braves 8, Mets 6

The "Launching Pad" saw the home team take the ailing Randy Jones deep 3 times in consecutive innings.  Chris Chambliss (3rd), Bruce Benedict (4th) and Dale Murphy (5th) helped hasten Jones' departure.  If there is such a term, Mahler could be considered a "hard luck" winner.  He gave up 5 runs on 10 hits, but only 4 of them were earned.  The bullpen almost let the Metsies back into it.  Somehow Mahler was able to get the win.  Both teams combined for 10 runs in just the first inning alone.  Both the smooth fielding Chambliss and Benedict had 2 hit / 3 RBI days.  Lee Mazzilli and John Stearns each had a 3 hit game, but the Amazin's still wound up on the short side of the ledger.

8/19 - Mets 2, Braves 1

Pat Zachry vs Tommy Boggs

Tommy Boggs' RBI single in the third turned out to be the only run that Pat Zachry or his minions would allow.  New York's bearded hurler would fan 6 and not allow a walk in 7 2/3's innings of work.  Tom Hausman would come up big getting the one batter he faced (Terry Harper) to fly out to shallow left.  Prior to Harper's AB, Brave Shortstop Mario Ramirez hit a two out triple and represented the tying run.  New York took the lead in the 4th when Ellis Valentine lifted a sac fly to right with the bases loaded to score Dave "Kong" Kingman.  John Stearns would score what would be the winning run 2 batters later when Zachry sliced a rare single just over the outstretched arms of Chambliss at first.  Neil Allen would toss a perfect 9th to get his second save of the season.

8/20 - Mets 1, Braves 0

Mike Scott vs Phil Niekro

Mike Scott carried a no hit bid into the 9th, but lost it when Claudell Washington lined a clean single to right with 1 out.  Scott looked a bit upset, so his manager (Eric Stouber) quickly went to the pen and brought in Neil Allen, who notched his 3rd save of the season (2nd in as many days).  Scott and Allen protected a 1 run lead provided by a two out RBI double by Ellis Valentine in the 4th.  Scott's breakout day on the hill was backed up by little or no offense, so he had to be just that perfect.  Hubie Brooks, Frank Taveras and Doug Flynn all had 2 hit games, with Taveras scoring New York's lone run.