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Freeman home run helps Braves beat Mets 3-2

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Freddie Freeman hit his second home run of spring training, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 3-2 Tuesday.

Freeman connected for a three-run drive in the third inning off Bartolo Colon. He is hitting .454 in five games and has driven in six runs.

''He's really swinging it good, and it's nice to see,'' Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''You wish you knew when to stop playing him, so he'd carry that into the season.''

Freeman who has 13 homers and a .313 career average against the Mets in the regular season,

''Freddie kills us,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''Nothing new. You didn't see a lot of damage other than Freddie Freeman, and that's what he does to us.''

Closer Craig Kimbrel made his spring training debut for the Braves with a scoreless seventh. He allowed an infield single to Cesar Puello, then picked him off, and walked Daniel Muno.

''It was good to get out there,'' Kimbrel said. ''Everything was coming out easy. That's what you always want the first game of the spring.''

Getting Puello leaning made Kimbrel's outing a little easier.

''I don't think I've had a pickoff in three or four years,'' Kimbrel said.

Braves starter Julio Teheran allowed an unearned run in three innings, struck out four and walked two. The only hit off him was an RBI single by John Mayberry Jr., who finished 2-for-4 as he battles' for the Mets' left-field job.

STARTING TIME

Mets: Colon had given up just an infield single and a walk until allowing four hits in the third inning. He threw two perfect innings in his debut against Washington, striking out two.

Braves: Teheran opened spring training with a two-inning outing against Detroit. ''I mixed my pitches really well and I got good results,'' he said. ''I felt stronger.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Left-handed reliever Josh Edgin, who gave up consecutive run-scoring triples Monday against Miami, was to have an MRI on his elbow Tuesday after feeling soreness in his forearm and experiencing a lack of velocity. He pitched in 47 games last season and had a 1.32 ERA.

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who left Sunday's game with a cut on his left ring finger, returned to the lineup and was 1-for-3 with an RBI. He also threw out speedy rookie Mallex Smith trying to steal second base and made a nice tag on a throw from right field by Puello.

Braves: Left-hander Mike Minor had an injection in his shoulder Monday after being diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation and will have to open the season on the disabled list. An MRI found no structural damage. Minor missed the first month a year ago because of shoulder issues, finishing 6-12 with a 4.77 ERA in 25 starts.

CONNECTIONS

Mets: John Franco made the trip in his first day of a weeklong stint as a Mets guest instructor and visited son J.J., who is in the Braves' minor league system. A second baseman, the younger Franco hit .347 in rookie ball last year after his graduation from Brown.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Matt Harvey, coming off two perfect innings against Detroit in his first outing following elbow-ligament replacement surgery, starts Wednesday against Miami in Viera, Top prospect Noah Syndergaard is again scheduled to follow Harvey.

Braves: LHP Alex Wood will make his second start on Wednesday, facing St. Louis. He allowing two runs and two hits in his first outing.