"Derek Lowe planned for a nice tune-up start Saturday, but instead the Braves pitcher got knocked around by Mets hitters and undermined by his own defense.

The Braves made five errors and Lowe was charged with seven hits and six runs (four earned) in an 8-2 road loss against the New York Mets. It was Lowe's final spring game before his opening-day start March 31 at Washington.

"It's hard to gear up, but on the other hand you don't want to go out there and be a human batting-practice machine, either, like I was at times [Saturday]," Lowe said. "I'm happy we're done. It wasn't the sharpest game, no doubt about it. It really wasn't very good, that's what it boils down to.

"But the second you're done you've already forgotten about it and can't wait to start [the regular season]."

Lowe gave up four hits and three runs in the first inning, one unearned after two errors by rookie right fielder/roster hopeful Wilkin Ramirez. The Mets also scored three runs in the third inning, two unearned after a two-out error by third baseman Brooks Conrad.

"The good thing is, there were still some ground balls," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of his veteran sinkerballer's performance. "We weren't real pretty behind him, either.""