As much as Braves fans hoped that Mark Teixeira would hit at close to his torrid, RBI-a-day, two-month stretch with Atlanta in 2007, his track record indicated it wouldn't happen.

Late May is generally when Teixeira starts doing his serious "raking," as the players put it.

He went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the 6-1 win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Mets. It could be the start of something big.

Before Tuesday, the former Georgia Tech star hit .247 with five homers, 21 RBIs and a .411 slugging percentage in 41 games.

"It always takes me a while," said Teixeira, who had a similar pattern in his first five seasons with Texas — muddle (statistically) through April and much of May, then catch fire.

"I wish I could flip a switch and start hitting home runs, but it's not that easy," said the switch-hitter, who had 17 homers and 56 RBI in 54 games last season after he was traded to Atlanta on July 31.

Here's how he fared after his sluggish starts every year in the majors:

In 2007: Teixeira had five home runs, 18 RBIs and a .469 slugging percentage in 39 games through May 15.

He hit .317 with 25 homers, 87 RBIs and a .602 slugging percentage in 93 games the rest of the season (that period included his only stint on the disabled list, for a quadriceps injury).

In 2006: Teixeira had four homers, 22 RBI and a .424 slugging percentage in 46 games through May 24.

He hit .284 with 32 doubles, 29 homers, 88 RBIs and a .552 slugging percentage in 116 games the rest of the season.

In 2005: Teixeira had eight home runs, 24 RBI and a .469 slugging percentage in 42 games through May 20.

He hit .311 with 31 doubles, 35 homers, 120 RBI and a .614 slugging percentage in 120 games the rest of the season.

In 2004: Teixeira hit .220 with five homers, 14 RBI and a .432 slugging percentage in 33 games through June 1.

He hit .297 with 33 homers, 98 RBI and a .595 slugging percentage in 112 games the rest of the season.

In 2003: The rookie Teixeira hit .232 with two homers, 11 RBI and a .368 slugging percentage in 31 games through May 19.

He hit .264 with 24 homers, 73 RBIs and a .505 slugging percentage in 115 games the rest of the season.