NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johan Santana pitched shutout baseball for the second game in a row to lead the New York Mets to a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
Santana allowed just five hits across seven innings while striking out five and walking three.
"We feel like we're getting a guy back who has lately seemingly found his stuff," Mets manager Jerry Manuel told reporters. "He was outstanding again today, so we look forward to watching him continue this performance for the rest of the year."
Ike Davis slammed a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning and double the Mets lead to 2-0. Angel Pagan opened the scoring for the Mets in the third inning, hitting a two-out triple and scoring on Alex Cora's single.
The Mets' final run was scored with a key pinch hit in the bottom of the eighth inning by Josh Thole. Thole, batting in place of relief pitcher Bobby Parnell, hit a two-out single to score Jesus Feliciano who led off the inning with a single.
Parnell and Francisco Rodriguez, who picked up his 21st save, combined for two hitless innings in relief of Santana.
"For us to see Parnell handle that eighth inning in that manner, that also gives us hope going forward," Manuel said. "We feel like we can shorten the game and not have to mix and match late in the ballgame."
Braves starter Derek Lowe did not receive run support and lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four.
(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Editing by Ed Osmond)
