ESPN MLB

ATLANTA (AP) -- The last time the Mets swept a three-game series in Atlanta, both teams were headed for last-place finishes.

The Mets are in position to make much more of this sweep of the Braves.

Carlos Beltran hit two homers, including his third grand slam in July, and New York completed its first sweep of at least three games in Atlanta in 21 years, beating the Braves 10-6 Sunday.

Elias Says

Beltran Carlos Beltran's second-inning homer in the Mets' 10-6 win at Atlanta was his third grand slam of the season, all during July, tying the major-league record for the most in a calendar month. Beltran (July 16, 18, 30) became the second player this season to homer in three straight bases-loaded plate appearances; Travis Hafner has gone deep each of the last three times he's come to the plate with the bags full (June 3, July 1, 7). Prior to this year, no player had done that since Mike Piazza in 1998. • For more Elias Says, Click here

The Mets swept a four-game set in Atlanta from July 4-7, 1985. Their last sweep of any series was a two-game set May 1-2, 1989.

The Mets are 8-4 against the Braves this year, including a 5-1 mark at Turner Field. It is a notable turnaround from last year, when the Mets were 1-8 at Atlanta. Entering the season, the Mets' all-time record in Atlanta was 110-151.

"We came in here and did what we wanted to do, and then some," said Mets starting pitcher Tom Glavine, the former longtime Braves pitcher. "We haven't had success here over the years. To come in here with this type of setting with them wanting to get back in the race, sweeping them is certainly huge in that regard."

Beltran's second inning slam was the Mets' major league record-tying sixth of the month. The Montreal Expos hit six grand slams in April 1996 and Cleveland matched the record in May 1999. He is the ninth player to hit three slams in a month and the first since Milwaukee's Devon White in May 2001.

Most grand slams in month
3	Carlos Beltran	July 2006
3	Devon White	May 2001
3	Mike Blowers	Aug. 1995
3	Shane Spencer	Sept. 1998
3	Mike Piazza	April 1998
3	Eric Davis	May 1987
3	Larry Parrish	July 1982
3	Jim Northrup	June 1968
3	Rudy York	May 1938

Beltran added another homer, his 32nd, off Jason Shiell in the fifth inning. He had four homers in the three-game series.

"I've seen enough of him for my career," said Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche of Beltran.

Beltran has eight homers and 18 RBI in eight games against the Braves this season.

"Carlos has been unconscious," said Mets manager Willie Randolph. "He stepped up big-time for us.

Beltran is hitting .282 with 32 homers and and an NL-leading 94 RBI.

He had a big grin on his face after hitting the grand slam because he said he told Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes he would hit the homer.

"I was really happpy I did it," Beltran said.

"I feel good at the plate. ... Four homers [in the series] is a great feeling, but what is most important is to play well and win against a team in our division."

The sweep left the Braves (48-56) eight games below .500.

Delgado had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Reyes had three hits and scored three runs for the Mets, who had a season-high 19 hits.

The Mets led 7-0 following Beltran's second-inning slam, but still Glavine couldn't stay in the game long enough to qualify for a win.

Glavine, who has two losses and five no-decisions in his last seven starts, gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in only four innings, his shortest outing of the season. He walked three batters while matching his season high for runs allowed.

Darren Oliver (4-0) pitched a scoreless fifth inning while relieving Glavine.

Billy Wagner recorded the final four outs for his 22nd save in 26 chances. Wagner struck out LaRoche with runners on first and second to end the eighth inning.

Beltran's slam knocked Braves starter Chuck James (4-2) out of the game.

James suffered his shortest start and his second straight loss after winning his first four starts. The left-hander gave up seven hits and seven runs with two walks. He was lifted after giving up singles to Glavine and Reyes and walking Paul Lo Duca before Beltran's slam, a line-drive shot to left field.

"You give up seven runs the first two innings, you're gonna get beat, in most cases," Cox said.

Delgado's first-inning homer, his 26th, drove in Reyes, who led off with a single. Delgado started after leaving Saturday night's game with a bruised right knee.

The Braves scored three runs in the second. Willy Aybar, who had four hits while batting leadoff in his first start since coming to the Braves in a trade from Los Angeles on Friday night, hit a two-run single, driving in Brian McCann and LaRoche. Aybar scored on a single by Edgar Renteria.

The Mets added a run in the third on Delgado's bases-loaded walk from Shiell.

The Braves cut the lead to 8-6 with three runs in the fourth. Aybar and Andruw Jones scored on Jeff Francoeur's single. McCann followed with a double to drive in Francoeur.

Beltran's second homer, a high shot off Shiell deep into the right-field seats, pushed the lead to 9-6 in the fifth inning.

Danys Baez gave up two hits but pitched out of the eighth-inning jam in his Braves debut. Baez came to Atlanta with Aybar in the deal that sent Wilson Betemit to Los Angeles.

Game notes

Aybar started for Chipper Jones, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. ... LF Cliff Floyd, held out of the starting lineup with a sore Achilles', struck out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. ... The Mets' last three-game sweep in Atlanta was Aug. 14-16, 1979 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.