In a game that was overshadowed with the unfortunate news of Mets’ broadcaster Ron Darling impending medical leave of absence, the Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets, 11-7. Darling said on-air that he has a large mass in his chest that requires surgery and that he will be away from the booth for about a month. The MMO story on Darling is here.

As for the game, Mets pitching gave up eight runs in the first two innings of the game. 81 pitches were required to get the Braves out in the first two frames. Jason Vargas started for the Mets and lasted only one-third of an inning yielding four runs. Corey Oswalt made his season debut as he relieved Vargas and wasn’t much better, yielding five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

The Mets showed resiliency as they scored four runs in the top of the second to briefly tie the score, but that lasted only to the Braves next at-bat where they scored four more to take an 8-4 lead. The Braves would tack on single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. The Mets would score once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to account for the final score. (box score)

Pitching

Mets fifth starter Jason Vargas started for the first time in eleven days. He has a history of pitching poorly on a disjointed pitching schedule and this game was no exception. The Braves wasted no time as they scored four runs in the bottom of the first. Lead-off man Ozzie Albies singled to begin the game followed by a walk to Josh Donaldson. Ronald Acuna Jr. drove in Albies with a single to open the scoring.

Nick Markakis walked to load the bases. Dansby Swanson walked as well to give scoring Donaldson to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead. That’s all Mets manager Mickey Callaway needed to see, as he came out with the hook and took out Vargas after six batters and 36 pitches. During the pitching change, Callaway was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez for arguing balls and strikes. Marquez’s strike zone seemed uneven throughout the entire game.

The new pitcher was Corey Oswalt making his season debut. He was promptly greeted with a single by Johan Carmago that drove in two runs to make the score 4-0. An inning double play off the bat of  Alex Jackson finally retired the Braves in the first.

Vargas pitched one-third of an inning allowing four runs, two hits, and three walks. He now has a 14.21 ERA.

In the second the Braves would tack on four more runs off of Oswalt. After a strikeout to pitcher Touki Toussaint, six of the next seven Braves would reach base. After a walk to Albies and a double by Donaldson, Met-killer Freddie Freeman singled to give the Braves a 5-4 lead. Acuna would follow with an RBI single to make it 6-4. The seventh Atlanta run scored on a single by Markakis. Swanson knocked in the eighth run on a ground out to make the score 8-4.

Markakis hit a solo home run, his first of the year, in the fourth made the score 9-4.

Oswalt pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing five runs, six hits, four walks with two K’s. He now has a 12.27 ERA.

Luis Avilan entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched two innings. He gave up an RBI single to Swanson in the bottom of the sixth to extend the Braves lead to 10-4.

Robert Gellman was the fourth Mets pitcher and gave up a home run to Donaldson, his first as a Brave, to make the score 11-4.

Offense

The Mets showed resiliency as they came to bat in the bottom of the first trailing by four runs and promptly got those four runs back. Travis d’Arnaud singled to open the inning followed by a walk to Keon Braxton. Amed Rosario loaded the bases with an opposite field hit, his seventh opposite field hit of the season. Juan Lagares doubled in two runs to make the score 4-2. Oswalt was the next batter and he has yet to get a hit in the majors (o-18) but contributed by hitting a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-3. Jeff McNeil, who would make Mets history on this night, stroked an RBI single to tie the game at four.

New York would not score again until the eighth inning on a throwing error by Freddie Freeman scoring d’Arnaud In the ninth the Mets would add their final two runs on an RBI pop single by Brandon Nimmo scoring Pete Alonso. Dominic Smith scored on a ground out by d’Arnaud to complete the scoring.

Jeff McNeil set a Mets franchise record by stroking his 90th hit in his first 76 games. The record had been held by Jose Reyes. McNeil had two hits on the game. Juan Lagares was the only other Met with a multiple hit game.

On Deck

The Mets will try to win the series Sunday as the four-game series with the Braves concludes. Jacob deGrom (2-1) will start for the Mets while Julio Teheran (1-1) goes for Atlanta. DeGrom has faced the Braves 17 times in his career with a 6-5 record and a 1.70 ERA. The game is the ESPN Sunday night game and will start at 7:05 PM.

As an aside, all of us at MMO wish nothing but the best for Ron Darling. We hope he has a speedy recovery and rejoins the best booth in baseball as soon as possible.