"Derek Lowe threw 30 strikes in 44 pitches over three scoreless innings of his second spring start, and his leadoff double in the third inning was one more hit than the Mets had against him Saturday.

Braves pitchers didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning of a 6-4 win against the New York Mets.

Reliever Anthony Varvaro gave up four hits and three runs while recording just two outs in the sixth, while the Mets mustered just two hits against the Braves' six other pitchers.

"I probably threw seven (curveballs) and a couple of changeups," said Lowe, who didn't throw any breaking balls in his first start last week, and hadn't planned to throw more than a few Saturday before competitiveness took over.

The veteran right-hander is trying to build more slowly toward the regular season this year than he did last spring. He said the cut fastball will be the last pitch he breaks out, likely in his final spring start.

Then again, if he needs it to get an out sooner, he might scrap the plan, at least temporarily. That's what he did Saturday, when he used a few more curveballs than planned to get outs with runners on base.

"I know it's spring training, but you're still out there competing," said Lowe, whose only mild disappointment were leadoff walks in the second and third innings, by Ike Davis and Josh Thole.

The Mets had two runners on base in the second after an error by Braves second baseman Dan Uggla. Lowe averted damage with double-play grounders in the second and third innings."