Sweeping the New York Mets seemed a fading notion for most of Thursday night, until the Braves tapped into their home-field mojo again in a stirring seventh inning they won't soon forget.

Three hits, one run and one out into the seventh inning, the Braves had the Mets where they wanted them — with searing-hot Chipper Jones coming to bat against Johan Santana, game tied, runners at first and third with one out.

"Man, you've got to live for that situation, the winning run on third and arguably the game's best pitcher on the mound," said Jones, who punched an opposite-field single to give the Braves the lead in a 4-2 win that capped a four-game series sweep against their skidding National League East rivals.

"I can't believe he did it — he never does anything against those guys," quipped Braves pitcher Tim Hudson, referring to Jones' penchant for big hits against the Mets.

"That was the most fun game of the year, no doubt about it,' said Kelly Johnson, who hustled for a leadoff double that started the seventh inning and sent a charge through the dugout and a crowd of 30,348 at Turner Field.

"This was one of those games we'll be talking about all year."

"Chipper — who else?" said manager Bobby Cox, whose Braves have won 13 of their past 14 home games and got their first four-game sweep of the Mets since July 2003. They are 7-2 against the Mets this season.

The resurgent Johnson was 3-for-4 and has a .383 average with 12 extra-base hits in his past 17 games. He has hit .379 with 12 RBI in nine games against the Mets.

Santana (5-3) gave up a career-high 12 hits in seven innings with one strikeout, only the fourth start of his career in which the former two-time American League Cy Young Award winner has had fewer than two strikeouts.

The left-hander has allowed 29 hits in 20 2/3 innings in his past three starts. He is 0-3 in four starts against the Braves, the only one of 26 teams he has started against more than once without a win.

In his first season in the NL, Santana is 0-2 in two starts against the Braves and Hudson.

"They both pitched great both times, and Huddy got him again," Cox said. "Santana's a dynamite pitcher, but Huddy was a little better tonight."

Hudson (7-3) gave up home runs on consecutive pitches to Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado in the second inning, but the Braves rallied from a 2-1 deficit after six innings to win for the 13th time in their past 14 home games.

"At home things are going well for us," said Hudson, who settled down after the homers and pitched eight strong innings, allowing seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts.

The Braves have the best home record (20-5) in the National League and the worst road record (6-16) in the major leagues.

The Braves are three games ahead of New York in the NL East standings and 1 1/2 games behind division leader Florida.

"It was awesome; we played great," said Jones, who went 2-for-4 to raise his major league-leading average from .410 to .412. "When we look back at the end of the season ... most fun we had all year on the field. Just great."

It was the 19th win in their past 22 home games for the Braves, who are 6-1 on an 11-game homestand that concludes with a long Memorial Day weekend series against Arizona starting tonight.

Johnson led off with a double, Hudson put down a two-strike sacrifice bunt after nearly falling on a chin-high fastball that left him muttering something at Santana.

Omar Infante, filling in for injured shortstop Yunel Escobar, singled to drive in Johnson with the tying run. Mark Kotsay followed with a single through the right side and third-base coach Brian Snitker wisely gave Infante the stop sign.

Jones then came through with his clutch single to right field for his team-high 35th RBI, and suddenly hot-hitting Mark Teixeira followed with an RBI single that gave the Braves a 4-2 lead and raised the noise level even higher.