Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - John Smoltz combined with four relievers to outduel Johan Santana as Atlanta edged New York, 3-1, to complete a weather- shortened two-game sweep of the Mets.

Smoltz (1-0), who was making his season debut after being activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game, was brilliant, allowing just two hits, while walking two and fanning six in five innings.

The veteran starter, who had been sidelined with a balky back, was on a tight pitch count and felt some stiffness in his shoulder so Braves manger Bobby Cox was content to leave the game in the hands of his bullpen.

"It's fine," Smoltz said of his shoulder. "This was my first test and I didn't fail it. I will be getting treatment on it and I will be ready to go next time. I threw some great pitches and kept them off balance. It kills me to not go back out there for the sixth and possible the seventh but I pride myself on saying (the shoulder) was getting stiff and not making it worse."

Blaine Boyer, Will Ohman and Peter Moylan each hurled an inning of scoreless relief until Rafael Soriano made things a little dicey in the ninth.

But, Mark Teixeira, who also had a two-run homer in the game, made a diving stop on Brian Schneider's hard grounder down the first base line to end the game with the tying runs on base.

Santana (1-1) was spectacular in defeat, surrendering just one run on seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander, who was a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star with Minnesota before being traded by the Twins to the Mets for four prospects over the winter, did not walk a batter and struck out three while lowering his earned run average to 1.93.

"We just weren't able to put runs on the board and they took advantage and got a big hit at the right time," Santana said. "You are not going to win every time you go out there but you feel good if you contribute to the team."

The Braves jumped on top with a run in the third. Mark Kotsay doubled to right and moved up 90-feet on Smoltz's sacrifice bunt. After Kelly Johnson bounced back to the box, Yunel Escobar laced a two-out RBI double to left.

The Mets managed to put the tying run on second late in the game on two occasions. In the seventh, Carlos Delgado slapped a one-out single off Ohman and moved to second on a Ryan Church ground ball. But, Angel Pagan flied out to center to end the inning.

An inning later, Marlon Anderson, who had gotten on with a fielder's choice, swiped second with two down but Moylan got Luis Castillo to chop out to first and end the threat.

Atlanta then put the game away with a couple of insurance runs in the eighth off Aaron Heilman. Chipper Jones drew a two-out walk and Teixeira followed by driving a home run just over the wall in right.

The Mets broke up the shutout off Soriano in the ninth, however. David Wright walked to leadoff the frame and advanced to second with two outs due to defensive indifference before Church slapped an RBI single to right. Soriano followed by walking Pagan, and Schneider laced a hard grounder down the first base line.

Teixeira was up to the task, making a spectacular diving grab before flipping the ball to Soriano to save the game.