The New York Mets (35-39) fell to the Atlanta Braves (44-31) by a score of 7-2 on Wednesday night at SunTrust Park. The Mets entered the series with a possibility of coming within as few as 4.5 games behind first place or falling as many as 10.5 games behind first. They now leave without a series victory and at 8.5 games behind first. (Box Score)

Pitching

Steven Matz (5-5, 4.28 ERA) got the nod in this game looking to lead the Mets to a series victory against the first-place Braves. The southpaw kept them in a position to win for the first five innings of the game as he limited the Braves to four walks, two hits, and two runs. Those two runs came on a two-run home run by Freddie Freeman in the first inning.

However, the wheels fell off for Matz in the sixth inning. He gave up four consecutive hits to start off the inning, including a two-run homer to Josh Donaldson and an RBI double to Ozzie Albies to give the Braves a 5-2 lead.

After not recording an out in the sixth, Matz was pulled in favor of Chris Flexen. Flexen worked around an inherited baserunner and a walk he issued to get out of the inning unscathed. The newly-converted reliever stayed on for the seventh and pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts.

Stephen Nogosek made his MLB debut in the eighth inning. He put two runners on base and recorded two outs before being pulled in favor of Daniel Zamora with the lefty, Nick Markakis, being called on to pinch hit. Zamora gave up an RBI double to Markakis which gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. He then stayed in to face the righty, Ronald Acuna Jr., and was able to retire him to end the inning.

Offense

The Mets offense faced Max Fried (8-3, 4.03 ERA) to start the game. Jeff McNeil greeted him with a leadoff double and steal of third base. Following the stolen base, Michael Conforto scratched out a run on a groundout to shortstop.

The Mets were unable to get anything started again until the fourth inning. With two outs and nobody on, Wilson Ramos and Amed Rosario hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 2-2. However, the inning ended prematurely as Rosario was thrown out trying to extend his double into a triple.

They came close to scoring again in the sixth inning as Ramos singled with J.D. Davis at second and one out, but Davis was easily tagged out at home plate. Rosario then struck out to end the inning.

The Mets finished with nine hits and two walks overall. McNeil, Ramos, and Rosario all had two hits on the night, with Rosario also adding an RBI. Rosario and McNeil also picked up one stolen base apiece.

On Deck

The Mets will promote Walker Lockett (0-0, -.– ERA) from Triple-A Syracuse to make his Mets debut against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Lockett will pitch against Tyler Chatwood (3-1, 3.60 ERA), who will make his second start of the season, and first since April 21. The game can be followed on SNY, WCBS 880 and ESPN Deportes 1050, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EDT.