The New York Mets (36-30) were defeated by the Atlanta Braves (21-46) by a score of 5-1 at Citi Field Friday evening.
Pitching:
Matt Harvey was not at his best tonight. After three sterling starts, Harvey struggled, especially putting innings away with two out. All in all, Harvey went six innings giving up four runs, walking two, and striking out five.
In the top of the fifth inning with the score still only 3-1, Harvey walked the leadoff hitter Mallex Smith. After getting Ender Inciarte to pop up to third baseman Kelly Johnson, Mallex Smith stole second base. Harvey faced what was seemingly the biggest threat in the Braves lineup in Freddie Freeman and struck him out to give the Mets their second out. With only an out left to get out of the inning, Nick Markakis laced a single into right field to give the Braves their fourth run of the game.
Antonio Bastardo came in to pitch the seventh inning and although he worked himself into and out of trouble he was able to pitch a scoreless inning.
Erik Goeddel was called on to pitch the eighth and he wasn’t very good. Goeddel walked Travis’s brother Chase d’Arnaud to lead off the inning. After getting A.J. Pierzynski to ground out, Erick Aybar smacked a single on a line drive to Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes bobbled the ball and d’Arnaud was able to come around and score easily giving the Braves their fifth run of the game. Cespedes received an error on the play. Jerry Blevins came on and cleaned up the mess to get out of the inning.
Jerry Blevins and Hansel Robles were able to combine to pitch a scoreless ninth.
Offense:
Former Mets farmhand John Gant, who was making just his second big league start, was on the mound for the Braves tonight and he was fantastic. Gant recorded two outs in the seventh inning before departing only giving up two hits and one run. He frustrated the Mets offense all night.
In the first inning Curtis Granderson lead off the game with a double on a line drive to right field that went all the way to the wall. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a groundout that was able to move Granderson over to third. Yoenis Cespedes was able to follow with a groundout of his own and Curtis Granderson broke for the plate on contact. Granderson scored easily. This would be the Mets only run of the game.
The Mets did make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh once Gant was out of the game. The Mets were able to load the bases with two outs however Wilmer Flores, who was called in to pinch hit, struck out on three pitches to end the threat.
Notes:
After leaving the game yesterday getting beamed in the wrist, Wilmer Flores was able to pinch hit tonight.
Travis d’Arnuad was sent to Las Vegas. D’Arnaud was expected to DH for the 51s tonight but catch Saturday and Sunday’s games. TDA should be activated with the big club early next week.
On Deck:
The Mets will play their second game of a three game series with the Atlanta Braves tomorrow evening at Citi Field. The game has a start time of 8:15 PM. Steven Matz (7-3, 2.71 ERA) will look to get the Mets back on track against righty Aaron Blair (0-4 7.59 ERA).
