The Braves scored three runs in the first inning against Johan Santana, and it was all they would need as the Mets fell 4-1. Santana should’ve been able to get out of the inning with just one run had David Wright and Luis Castillo turned a double play.

Instead, Matt Diaz doubled to score the first run. Then Rick Ankiel hit a two-run single to make it 3-0 early.

The Mets had plenty of chances as they went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. That one hit came in the fifth inning after Jose Reyes led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Carlos Beltran hit an RBI double to score Reyes.

They had a chance to get on the board first when Angel Pagan hit a single and Beltran followed with a walk. However, Wright flied out, one of the four times he did so tonight, and Ike Davis popped up.

The Mets actually had 13 strikeouts, 11 by Santana, a season high. Santana threw 115 pitches in seven innings, but he allowed nine hits including a home run by Chipper Jones, who hit his 43rd career against the Mets.

The Mets are now 7 1/2 games out of first place and a half-game behind the Marlins. R.A. Dickey tries to get the Mets over .500 tomorrow against Derek Lowe.

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