New York - Freddie Freeman had five RBIs in the first two innings and the Atlanta Braves battered Johan Santana in his return from the disabled list, routing the sluggish New York Mets 9-3 on Saturday night.

Michael Bourn had three hits, Chipper Jones chased Santana with an RBI single in a seven-run second inning and Atlanta sent the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the worst start of his career.

Kris Medlen (3-1) pitched effectively into the seventh inning, striking out seven while improving to 2-0 since joining the rotation. A solid reliever most of the season, he has permitted one run in each of his three starts.

Santana (6-8) got only four outs. He was charged with eight hits - seven singles - and a season-high eight runs in his first outing since July 20.

The left-hander was sidelined for three weeks with a sprained right ankle, a stint on the DL also intended to refresh his surgically repaired shoulder. But he was hit hard for the fourth straight start and left trailing 6-0 after 43 pitches.

Freeman, who had a two-run double with two outs in the first, greeted reliever Jeremy Hefner with a three-run homer that sailed over the giant apple behind the center-field fence.

The surging Braves won for the 14th time in 17 games and sent the Mets to their 11th defeat in 12 home games. New York (54-60) has lost 21 of 29 overall to drop a season-worst six games under .500.

The 33-year-old Santana, who missed last season following major shoulder surgery, got off to a strong start this year and pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history June 1 against St. Louis. He threw a career-high 134 pitches in that game, however, and has struggled badly since.

The tailspin got especially ugly after Chicago Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson, now with the Braves, stepped on Santana's foot on a play at first base July 6. Beginning with that outing, Santana is 0-4 with a 17.36 ERA in his last four starts - by far the worst stretch of his career. He has given up 27 runs, 36 hits and six homers over 14 innings.

Santana worked three scoreless innings in a rehab start Sunday for Class-A Brooklyn. New York manager Terry Collins said Saturday he thought the longtime ace might be rusty, but he expected Santana would be able to finish the season strong.

It was the second straight start and third one this season in which Santana was knocked out so quickly he never even got to bat. He also lasted only 1 1-3 innings in his third outing of the year April 17 at Atlanta. In that game, he allowed six runs - four earned - and four hits.