TOM SALADINO
For The Associated Press
ATLANTA – Tim Hudson pitched six solid innings and Rick Ankiel drove in two runs with his first hit as a Brave, a two-out, two-run single in a three-run first inning that helped Atlanta to a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Monday night.
Chipper Jones added a solo home run in the seventh – his eighth – as the Braves, who had lost five of seven and two straight, increased their NL East lead to three games over the idle Philadelphia Phillies.
It was the start of a seven-game homestand for the Braves who will play 13 of their next 16 games at home where they own the best record in the majors at 35-13.