Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy hit a pair of three-run home runs to lead them past the New York Mets 9-8 on Monday afternoon.
The Braves took Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Mets. Both teams were supposed to be off but a wet weekend in New York caused the games to be made up on Monday. Atlanta had already taken the first game of the series, 4-0 in an abbreviated matchup on Friday.
The Mets, without a starting pitcher, opted to have reliever Denyi Reyes start on the mound. Reyes had not allowed a run in five appearances this season. That streak didn’t hold for long on Monday.
The Mets opener allowed back-to-back singles to Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson. He got Austin Riley to pop out to short for the first out but Murphy punished Reyes, blasting his seventh home run of the season over the left field wall and giving Atlanta a quick 3-0 lead.
Reyes completed the inning without allowing another run but he was quickly hooked following a single and two-run homer by former Met Kevin Pillar to open the second inning. Reyes was replaced by John Curtiss. Curtiss’ first batter, Acuna, took him deep into the third deck of left field. Atlanta had a 6-1 lead after just 10 batters.
But the Mets didn’t just give up. It would’ve been easy when you starter gives up so many so early and your opponent is Spencer Strider but the Mets challenged the Braves ace.
Nimmo opened the game for the Mets with a triple and was driven in by Lindor for the Mets first run of the game. Then in the third while down five runs, the top of the order came through again. Starling Marte singled, Lindor walked, and Pete Alonso joined the homer club with his 11th of the season to make it a 6-4 game.
The teams would trade scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth innings. Stephen Nogosek made his return from the injured list and tossed 2 2/3 innings for New York, allowing just one hit.
The Mets cut the lead to one run in the bottom of the sixth. Brett Baty stayed in against the lefty reliever Dylan Lee and promptly took him deep for his second home run of the season. Baty now has 10 hits, two homers, and four runs batted in over his last seven games.
Atlanta wouldn’t go quietly. Acuna and Olson got on base again for the top of the seventh and Murphy drove them again on a three-run home run, his second of the game.
The Mets kept battling. The bottom of the seventh started with consecutive hit by pitches of Lindor and Alonso, then a McNeil single to load the bases. Daniel Vogelbach grounded into a force out but Atlanta shortstop Vaughn Grissom committee an error on the throw, allowing Lindor and Alonso to score. Baty singled to give the Mets two runners on and only one out but each of the Mets pinch hitting choices – Tommy Pham and Mark Canha – grounded out.
Down 9-7 in the ninth, the Mets had a chance to tie it. Alonso and McNeil were set to bat 1-2 against Braves closer A.J. Minter. Minter got Alonso to strike out, followed by a lineout from McNeil. The Mets, down to their final out, opted to pinch hit Eduardo Escobar for Vogelbach. Escobar promptly hit his third homer of the year to bring the Mets back to within one.
Baty was up and hit an absolute screamer to right field, unfortunately, it was right to Acuna Jr ending the ballgame.
The Mets will get a chance to avoid the sweep tonight in the second game of the doubleheader. But a different starter choice and the Mets could’ve stolen a bullpen game against the Braves No. 1. If the division comes down to the wire again this is one the Mets are going to wish they had back.
