Mike Pelfrey needed 108 pitches to throw his first career complete game -- a three-hitter -- in a 6-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday night. The Mets put a five-spot up in the first inning, and David Wright homered in the fifth inning.

The Mets have a winning record against every team in their division except the Braves, but, with Pedro Martinez on the mound, they have a chance to sweep the series on Thursday.

April setbacks for Pedro Martinez and Mike Hampton contributed to disappointing starts for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, respectively. Though the oft-injured pitchers appear to be headed in the right direction, the same can't be said about both teams. Martinez and Hampton square off as the surging Mets try to complete a three-game sweep of the struggling Braves on Thursday night at Shea Stadium. Martinez (4-3, 4.

As soon as Mike Pelfrey emerged from the dugout for the ninth inning, the Shea Stadium crowd roared its approval. The big right-hander had come close before, but this time he was determined to finish the job. Pelfrey pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and David Wright homered to lead the New York Mets over the sloppy Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Wednesday night. "Anytime you can go out there and throw a complete game, it's awesome," Pelfrey said.

Mike Pelfrey pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and David Wright homered to lead the New York Mets past the sloppy Atlanta Braves, 6-3 on Wednesday night. Pelfrey (12-8) also delivered at the plate, hitting an RBI single in a five-run first inning, when the NL East leaders took advantage of two Atlanta errors. Daniel Murphy hit a two-run single, and Fernando Tatis also drove in a run to help the surging Mets, who have won eight of nine and 11 of 14.

Seeking another option for their suspect bullpen, the New York Mets agreed with right-hander Al Reyes on a minor league contract Wednesday. Reyes closed games for Tampa Bay last year, earning a career-high 26 saves in 30 chances. He was 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA in 61 appearances. This season, the 38-year-old Reyes was on the disabled list twice with shoulder injuries, and Troy Percival served as Tampa Bay's primary closer before getting hurt. Reyes went 2-2 with a 4.

Seeking another option for their suspect bullpen, the New York Mets agreed with right-hander Al Reyes on a minor league contract Wednesday. Reyes closed games for Tampa Bay last year, earning a career-high 26 saves in 30 chances. He was 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA in 61 appearances. This season, the 38-year-old Reyes was on the disabled list twice with shoulder injuries, and Troy Percival served as Tampa Bay's primary closer before getting hurt. Reyes went 2-2 with a 4.

When outfield Ryan Church returns later this year -- if he returns later this year -- he will find himself on the bench. Manager Jerry Manuel said that he is comfortable with Fernando Tatis in right and the Nick Evans-Daniel Murphy platoon in left.

The Mets signed former Rays closer Al Reyes on Wednesday to a Minor League deal and assigned him to Double-A Binghamton, in an attempt to bolster their bullpen down the September stretch.

The Washington Nationals acquired shortstop Anderson Hernandez from New York on Wednesday, completing Sunday's trade that sent right-hander Luis Ayala to the Mets. The slick-fielding Hernandez has a .138 career average in 87 big league at-bats. The 25-year-old switch hitter was batting .203 with five homers and 36 RBIs in 125 games this year at Triple-A New Orleans.

The Mets announced that they’ve signed the former Tampa Bay closer Al Reyes.

The righthander, who was released 10 days ago, has been assigned to Double-A Binghamton. The goal is to get him sharp after the time off since his release.

Should he be promoted to the big league club, he would be the active member of the bullpen with the most career saves - 32. Reyes had 26 saves last season for the then-Devil Rays.

This season he was 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 22 games. He was never the Rays closer because they acquired Troy Percival.

On the topic of closers, the Mets are giving no timetable for a possible return of closer Billy Wagner from elbow inflammation.

His agent, however, told 1050 ESPN that after a doctor’s appointment Tuesday the pitcher was "surprised it will take three weeks."

In other injury news, Ryan Church (concussion) and Luis Castillo (hip flexor) will both play tonight for Binghamton. It’s the last rehab game Castillo is permitted, but that doesn’t mean he rejoins the team automatically. He could return to Florida to work on his swing.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

J. Reyes SS
A. Reyes 2B
Wright 3B
Delgado 1B
Beltran CF
Murphy LF
Tatis RF
Schneider C
Pelfrey P

- Roger Rubin

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is picking up pieces for the stretch run, but he's doing it on the cheap. Tracy Ringolsby explains.

It has been a stormy few weeks for many major league bullpens around the league.

The Mets' biggest problem is obvious: the bullpen. But each contender has an Achilles' heel. Dayn Perry exposes them.

MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Billy Wagner (left elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 3. He made a rehab appearance with Class AA Binghamton on Aug. 14, but after an Aug. 19 exam, he was declared out indefinitely due to swelling in his left elbow. OF Ryan Church (migraine headaches) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 7. He had a DL stint earlier this season that was prompted by a concussion. He took batting practice July 29-30.

Mets closer Billy Wagner remains shut down after an exam Tuesday showed continued swelling and pain in his left elbow. The Mets will go with a closer-by-committee format while Wagner is shelved. Wagner was eligible to be activated from the disabled list Monday, but that wasn't possible after he complained of soreness in the elbow after throwing a bullpen session Saturday in Pittsburgh. Wagner said he anticipates pitching again this season, but he couldn't put a timetable on anything.

--OF Ryan Church (post-concussion syndrome) continued his rehab assignment at Class AAA New Orleans on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI double. Church played seven innings in right field. There is no timetable for his return to the Mets. --RHP John Maine is still bothered by soreness in his rotator cuff. "It's not getting any worse, but it's not getting any better, either," Maine said. "It's a pennant race. I have to suck it up. I still feel I can help the team.

CC Sabathia is near 200 innings, and it's still August. Why isn't Milwaukee concerned? Ken Rosenthal knows, but he isn't buying it.

Without Billy Wagner and his 385 saves, the Mets' bullpen is playing by situation who to put on the mound to hold close leads in the ninth inning.

Two of the National League's better young starting pitchers square off for the third time this season Wednesday night when Mike Pelfrey leads the New York Mets into the middle contest of a three-game home series against Jair Jurrjens and the NL East rival Atlanta Braves. Pelfrey and Jurrjens own identical records, and each right-hander is tied for his club's staff lead in wins. When they've faced each other, though, Jurrjens (11-8, 3.15 ERA) has gotten the better of Pelfrey (11-8, 3.