(Best E Casino) - The New York Mets' first victory at Turner Field this year turned out to be one of its biggest of the season. Back in first place in the National League East, the Mets play the second test of a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves tonight.

New York had dropped each of its previous six tests in Atlanta this season before posting a 9-5 victory in Friday's opener. The win, coupled with the Phillies' loss to the Marlins last night, put the Mets a half-game up on Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL East with nine games to play.

The Mets were leading the NL wild-card race before the win, as they try to erase the memory of last year's collapse that saw them blow a seven-game lead in the division with 17 left to play.

New York trailed by a run heading into the eighth inning of last night's win before posting a four-run frame. The big inning included a pinch-hit, go-ahead double by Daniel Murphy that plated a pair of runs.

Jose Reyes and Nick Evans homered for the Mets, who won their third straight to regain the top spot in the standings after squandering a 3 1/2-game lead to the Phillies earlier this month.

With the Mets likely losing starter John Maine for the rest of the season, New York will hope that Pedro Martinez can give them a solid outing tonight.

Maine has been out since August due to a shoulder injury and depending on how a throwing session goes today, could be done for the year. He is 10-8 with a 4.18 earned run average in 25 starts for New York this season.

Martinez, meanwhile, has lost back-to-back starts while posting a 6.75 ERA over his last five outings. The 36-year-old was tagged for four runs on eight hits and four walks over six innings of a loss to Washington on Monday.

The outing dropped Martinez to 5-5 with a 5.47 ERA this year, and he sports a 6.05 ERA in 11 road outings this season. The right-hander is also 11-9 with a 3.61 ERA and five complete games in 29 career tests, including 22 starts, versus Atlanta.

Martinez tonight likely won't have to face Chipper Jones, who left last night's game with a sore right shoulder and is day-to-day. Jones was 0-for-3 before exiting, but still leads the majors with a .362 average.

Omar Infante went 2-for-3, drove in two runs and scored for the Braves, who have lost four in a row -- all at home. Kelly Johnson extended his hitting streak to 17 games, and he hitting .431 (28-for-65) on the run with two homers, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored.

Tonight the Braves send to the hill Jorge Campillo, who has lost three straight decisions and has posted three consecutive no-decisions heading into this start.

His latest was on Sunday versus the Mets, when the 30-year-old righty allowed four runs (3 earned) on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Campillo is 7-7 with a 3.79 ERA this year and 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two starts and one career relief outing versus the Mets.

The Braves still lead the season series, 9-7, despite Friday's loss.