ATLANTA -- The New York Mets shut out the Atlanta Braves, 5-0, in the series opener Friday night at Turner Field as Zack Wheeler went six innings and Lucas Duda provided a decisive two-run homer in the sixth inning.Wheeler threw 105 pitches (65 for strikes), giving up five hits, walking two and striking out seven to move to 11-10 on the year as the Mets dealt a severe blow to their division rivals' playoff hopes. 
The outing was a terrific rebound performance for Wheeler, who allowed six earned runs in just four innings in his last start against the Washington Nationals. It was the righty's team-high 21st quality start of the year, and his fourth scoreless outing.Duda's 28th long ball, off a fastball from Braves starter Julio Teheran on the second pitch of the at-bat, was set up by a one-out ground-rule double by Daniel Murphy, who had four hits.Teheran matched Wheeler every step of the way, with the exception of the sixth-inning homer. Teheran gave up just the two earned runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out six. He threw just 90 pitches (60 strikes), falling to 13-13.Wheeler was in control early with five strikeouts through four innings, but he worked out of his biggest jam in the bottom of the fifth.The Georgia native started by striking out Teheran for his sixth strikeout, but he surrendered a two-out double to Andrelton Simmons followed by a walk to Freddie Freeman. But he was able to buckle down and get Justin Upton to chase a ball in the dirt for an inning-ending strikeout on just three pitches.The Braves were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position against Wheeler. Simmons was 3-for-4, and his double was the only extra-base hit of the night for the Braves.Wheeler needed just 10 pitches to get out of the sixth inning before handing it over to the bullpen. Carlos Torres pitched a perfect seventh inning, and Jeurys Familia struck out two in the eighth.Eric Young Jr.'s two-run single highlighted a three-run ninth inning to put the game out of reach.Murphy tied his career high with his 12th four-hit game, collecting three singles and a double.Paul Thomas / Special to MLB.com
The outing was a terrific rebound performance for Wheeler, who allowed six earned runs in just four innings in his last start against the Washington Nationals. It was the righty's team-high 21st quality start of the year, and his fourth scoreless outing.Duda's 28th long ball, off a fastball from Braves starter Julio Teheran on the second pitch of the at-bat, was set up by a one-out ground-rule double by Daniel Murphy, who had four hits.Teheran matched Wheeler every step of the way, with the exception of the sixth-inning homer. Teheran gave up just the two earned runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out six. He threw just 90 pitches (60 strikes), falling to 13-13.Wheeler was in control early with five strikeouts through four innings, but he worked out of his biggest jam in the bottom of the fifth.The Georgia native started by striking out Teheran for his sixth strikeout, but he surrendered a two-out double to Andrelton Simmons followed by a walk to Freddie Freeman. But he was able to buckle down and get Justin Upton to chase a ball in the dirt for an inning-ending strikeout on just three pitches.The Braves were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position against Wheeler. Simmons was 3-for-4, and his double was the only extra-base hit of the night for the Braves.Wheeler needed just 10 pitches to get out of the sixth inning before handing it over to the bullpen. Carlos Torres pitched a perfect seventh inning, and Jeurys Familia struck out two in the eighth.Eric Young Jr.'s two-run single highlighted a three-run ninth inning to put the game out of reach.Murphy tied his career high with his 12th four-hit game, collecting three singles and a double.Paul Thomas / Special to MLB.com
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