ATLANTA _ In a start to a season that has been heavy on late-inning drama, Friday night offered one of the Mets' rarest commodities: a relatively stress-free win.
It was a 6-2 decision against the Braves at SunTrust Park, the Mets' second there in as many nights, this time with plenty of runs early and strong relief pitching late, an unusual combination in the opening weeks of the season.
The first eight wins for the first-place Mets (9-4) came by an average of 2.4 runs. Six of those eight required a save _ five by Edwin Diaz, one by Justin Wilson _ and the other two featured four-run Mets leads in the ninth, Diaz finishing them off anyway.