Regardless of what happens before or after he leaves the proceedings, the Braves have become incapable of winning a game started by Jo-Jo Reyes.

He pitched poorly (again) Friday, but not until long after Reyes hit the showers did the New York Mets score four runs in the eighth inning to break open the game in a sloppy 9-5 victory against the Braves at Turner Field.

“Jo-Jo didn’t get the job done, simple as that,” said Braves manager Bobby Cox, whose recent frank criticism of Reyes’ disappointing performances has stood in sharp contrast to Cox’s usual protectiveness of his players.

Major-league batting leader Chipper Jones went 0-for-3 before leaving with an inflamed right shoulder after six innings. He left without talking to reporters and told a Braves official the shoulder has nagged him for some time.

Jones was listed as day-to-day, and didn’t know if he would play Saturday.

The Mets were three-error sloppy but notched their third consecutive victory to reclaim first place in the National League East, a half-game ahead of Philadelphia.

It was the fourth loss in a row for the Braves, who swept by the Phillies to begin this homestand.

It was the Braves’ 11th straight loss in starts by Reyes — the first time Atlanta lost that many starts in a row by one pitcher in more than two decades.

The Braves lost 11 consecutive Rick Mahler starts during the 1987-88 seasons.

Reyes lasted 3 1/3 innings and gave up five earned runs and seven hits, including two home runs. It was the seventh time in 11 starts he lasted 4 1/3 innings or fewer.

“When I needed to put up zeroes, I didn’t,” said Reyes, who was staked to a 2-1 lead in the second inning before allowing three runs in the third. “They gave me a lead, and I wasn’t able to hold it.”

Nothing new there. Reyes remained winless (0-7) with a 7.79 ERA in his past 12 games (11 starts). He’s 3-11 and hasn’t won since June 13.

When asked if his patience with Reyes has worn thin, Cox said he met with the team a few days ago and told them no one was guaranteed a spot in 2009.

“Guys have to earn it,” Cox said. “It’s frustrating because I know they can do it. But there comes a time when you have to do it.”

Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman’s recent hot streak ended abruptly when he came to bat in three different innings with two runners on base and two outs … and grounded out every time.

“We had some runners on,” Cox said, steering the criticism back to Reyes. “We’re playing a good ballgame, overcoming a poor pitching performance. It’s not easy to play catchup against a guy like [Mets starter Oliver] Perez.”

In the seventh inning, the Mets gift-wrapped the tying run by making errors on each of the first two plays in the inning.

Brandon Jones reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Reyes to begin the inning. Martin Prado singled, and the ball was misplayed by right fielder Ryan Church, allowing Jones to score and Prado to reach second.

After Prado advanced to third on a flyout, pinch-hitter Greg Norton was intentionally walked. Omar Infante struck out, and Kotchman grounded out to leave the score tied 5-5.

The Mets blew the game open in the eighth with four runs (one earned) against reliever Julian Tavarez (1-3), who gave up five hits and was undermined by messy defense, including an error against second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Jose Reyes homered for the Mets on the fourth pitch of the game, but the Braves scored two runs in the second inning after an error by third baseman David Wright.

Kelly Johnson extended a career-best hitting streak to 17 games with a fifth-inning bunt single that loaded the bases with none out. Jones struck out looking, making it five runners he left on base in his final two at-bats.

Jones’ average slipped from .365 to .362, nine points ahead of St. Louis’ Albert Pujols, who went 1-for-4 Friday against the Chicago Cubs.