9:57 p.m.: Mets lose, 9-2. The loss dropped the Mets to 65-67 and snapped a string of 27 straight games in which the team had remained within a game of .500. That streak had been the third-longest in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Only the 1939 Brooklyn Dodgers (who remained within a game of .500 for 39 straight games) and the 1959 Chicago Cubs (29 games) had longer streaks. The Mets dropped two games under .500 for the first time since they were 21-23 on May 22.

8:59 p.m.: David Ross grand slam. Seven-run fifth. Niese pulled with two out. Braves 8, Mets 2.

8:53 p.m.: Alex Gonzalez adds an RBI single, although Jeff Francoeur picks up another outfield assist, preventing a second run from scoring. Braves lead, 4-2.

8:46 p.m.: So much for the lead. Jon Niese plunks Nate McLouth with a full-count offering in the ex-Pirate's return from the minors. Luis Castillo then botches a routine grounder for an errror. With two on and none out, Jason Heyward delivers a two-run double to the left-center gap. Braves 3, Mets 2.

8:37 p.m.: Ike Davis walks to reload the bases. Henry Blanco then delivers the second sacrifice fly of the fifth. Mets take a 2-1 lead.

8:32 p.m.: The Mets load the bases with none out in the fifth on Luis Castillo's single and walks to David Wright and Carlos Beltran. Jeff Francoeur's sacrifice fly then ties the score at 1.

8:10 p.m.: Jon Niese surrenders a double to Martin Prado to open the bottom of the fourth. Niese has allowed the leadoff batter to reach in all four innings. This time, he doesn't escape. Derrek Lee follows with an RBI single to left field. Prado scores comfortably with Chris Carter having a below-average arm. Braves 1, Mets 0.

8:08 p.m.: Ruben Tejada is 2-for-2 after a bunt single in the fourth. Bad news: As the No. 8 hitter, you can't be bunting with two outs ahead of the pitcher.

7:55 p.m.: Jon Niese strands a runner at third base for the second straight inning, this time after a leadoff triple by David Ross in the third. Mets and Braves still scoreless heading ot the fourth.

7:41 p.m.: Derrek Lee's leadoff double in the second goes for naught. Jon Niese leaves Lee at third base by retiring Alex Gonzalez on a groundout to shortstop that forces Lee to hold, then a strikeout of Melky Cabrera.

7:35 p.m.: Ruben Tejada singles with two out in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to three games. Ike Davis had stranded two runners in the first with a strikeout.

7:10 p.m.: Lineups:

Mets

Luis Castillo, 2B
David Wright, 3B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Ike Davis, 1B
Henry Blanco, C
Chris Carter, LF
Ruben Tejada, SS
Jon Niese, LHP

Braves

Omar Infante, 2B
Jason Heyward, RF
Martin Prado, 3B
Derrek Lee, 1B
Matt Diaz, LF
Alex Gonzalez, SS
Melky Cabrera, CF
David Ross, C
Mike Minor, LHP