Dillon Gee

In a season full of key injuries and negative financial news, the Mets have found one bright spot.... Dillon Gee.

This rookie is pitching like an ace.

Gee outpitched Jair Jurrjens to remain unbeaten this season, and Jose Reyes hit a bases-loaded triple, leading New York past the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Saturday night.

"I was really impressed because it was a game that we needed some zeros," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He's proved that he can pitch at this level and have success. All he does is give you quality outings."

The Mets took advantage of an error by shortstop Alex Gonzalez to score five times in the seventh inning.

New York's bullpen kept a lead with Pedro Beato and Tim Byrdak combining for two perfect innings to close end it.

"Better than the last few I watched," Collins said.

The Mets set an unwanted major league record Friday night: Their last six home losses have all come in games in which they led in the seventh inning. The bullpen had a 10.57 ERA over the previous 12 games.

Gee (6-0) won his fourth straight start, needing only 85 pitches to get through seven innings before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Showing smarts and poise again, he allowed four hits and walked two while finishing with a pair of strikeouts.

"He was definitely on top of his game. He was basically doing anything he wanted tonight," Braves slugger Chipper Jones said. "Fastball in and out. Changeup, bottom dropping out of the changeup. Cutter, which is something we were seeing for the first time. Just really, really kept us off balance."

Gee became the first rookie in club history to win his first six decisions in a season as a starter. Jon Matlack, the 1972 NL Rookie of the Year, opened 6-0 with one win out of the bullpen.

"I think the confidence factor is really good right now," Gee said. "I'm glad to be helping the team. I don't read too much into it. I'm pitching to contact, changing speeds."

New York has won all eight of Gee's starts this season, making him the only pitcher who has made at least five starts without his team losing any of them.