The R-Braves are back where they started — owning a 0-0 record, and a clean slate. Tonight, the Braves open their second-half schedule when they host Charleston at 7 p.m. The Braves were in contention for the Southern Division’s first-half title until a late skid sunk their chances. They finished with a 36-33 record in the first half, seven games behind first-place Savannah, and stumbled into the All-Star break on a four-game losing streak. SAL ALL-STAR GAME RECAP The South Atlantic League All-Star Game was played Tuesday night in Lakewood, N.J., at the home of the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Northern Division stars came away with a 2-1 victory in the contest, which was shortened to seven innings on a rainy night at FirstEnergy Park. The game was delayed by weather for two hours and 51 minutes. The Rome Braves had four representatives on the Southern Division roster, and three of the Rome players — Levi Hyams, Josh Elander and Eric Garcia — were in the starting lineup. Hyams, who batted second in the lineup and played second base, connected for a solo homer in the first inning, and finished 1-for-2. Elander, who leads the Rome club in homers (11) and RBIs (59), played left field and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout. Garcia, playing third base, went 0-for-3. Rome’s fourth representative, relief pitcher Shae Simmons, worked two-thirds of an inning, allowing no runs and one hit with no walks or strikeouts. He was one of 19 pitchers used in the game, including 10 by the Southern squad. Simmons leads the league in saves with 18.

ATLANTA — Chris Johnson broke a long home run drought Wednesday night, and his blast helped Kris Medlen’s miscue in the field become just a footnote on the game. Medlen shook off a Little League-like mistake with seven strong innings and Johnson provided support with a three-run homer that helped the Braves bounce back from Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep by beating the Mets, 5-3. Johnson went deep in the fourth for his first homer since May 13. Jordan Schafer put the Braves ahead to stay with some gutsy baserunning in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch that didn’t even roll off the dirt around home plate. After the game, Medlen (4-7) issued a blanket apology to every coach he’s ever had. At least he could laugh about an inexplicable defensive blunder. With a 3-0 lead, two runners aboard and no outs, the right-hander got just what he wanted — a grounder right back to the mound. An easy double play, right? Not so fast. For some reason, Medlen whirled and threw to third — apparently thinking triple play — but the ball skipped past the bag and rolled toward left field. Instead of getting two outs, both runners came around to score. “It was like I blacked out, and when I woke up, the ball was in left field,” Medlen said. Manager Fredi Gonzalez was surprised as he watched the play unfold. “I hope no kids were watching that,” he said. “I’ve never seen that before. Maybe in 10-and-under baseball, but I don’t think I’ve seen that play — ever. Believe me, we don’t practice that.” Medlen bounced back from the miscue, giving up six hits and only one earned run, while striking out seven. He didn’t walk anyone and even picked up the first stolen base of his career in the sixth. He had the bag in his locker after the game, a souvenir to help him forget that other play. Maybe. “We won, so I’m happy,” he said. “But it feels like we lost.” Shaun Marcum (0-9) knows that that feels like. He became just the third pitcher in Mets history to start a season dropping nine straight decisions. “Balls are not falling his way. We haven’t given him run support, either,” catcher John Buck said. “It’s just not going real well for him. When I’m back there, I feel like we’re in control of everything. It’s always just one mistake or that one inning that seems to bite him.” The Braves scored first with two outs in the fourth. B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla hit back-to-back singles, and then Marcum left a 2-0 pitch over the plate to Johnson. He drove it into the left-field seats, slapping hands emphatically with first-base coach Terry Pendleton on his way around the bases. “It felt good. Not just the homer, but hitting it with guys on base,” Johnson said. “I like to drive guys in.” Medlen gave the runs right back in the fifth. Marlon Byrd led off with a single and Lucas Duda was plunked, putting two runners aboard to set up the baffling throw to third. Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with a bloop single just inside the right-field line to bring home Buck with the tying run. “I deserved that,” Medlen said. The Braves quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Schafer led off with a double and advanced on Andrelton Simmons’ sacrifice before Freddie Freeman walked. It looked as if Marcum might escape the jam when he struck out Justin Upton. But a pitch to Brian McCann bounced off Buck’s chest protector, rolling off to the catcher’s right. Schafer was nearly halfway down the line already — the Mets shifted their defense against McCann, leaving only third baseman David Wright on the left side of the infield — and the runner broke for home as soon as he saw the ball get away. Even though it rolled only to the edge of the grass and Buck made a quick flip to Marcum covering home, Schafer slid headfirst under the tag. “Great instincts,” Gonzalez said. B.J. Upton followed with an RBI double that gave the Braves a two-run cushion, finishing off Marcum. He surrendered six hits and walked four in 4 2-3 innings. Medlen pitched into the eighth, coming out after giving up a bloop single to pinch hitter Josh Satin leading off the inning. Luis Avilan got Mets newcomer Eric Young Jr. to hit into a double play, and Craig Kimbrel struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances. Marcum’s start is the worst for a Mets pitcher since Anthony Young lost his first 13 decisions in 1993 on the way to a 1-16 record. The only other pitcher in New York history to begin a season with as many as nine consecutive losses was Bob Miller, who started 0-12 in 1962 before winning his final decision with the woeful expansion Mets. “It’s been a three-month ordeal for me,” Marcum said. NOTES: Young started in center field and led off for the Mets, less than 24 hours after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies. He singled on the second pitch of the game and finished 1 for 4. ... B.J. Upton had two hits and a walk. ... The Mets placed RHP Scott Atchison back on the disabled list after he injured his right groin while warming up for an appearance Tuesday night. He had just come off the DL for an ailing elbow, but didn’t even make an actual pitch before getting hurt again.