After trailing 6-0 heading into the eigth inning, the Mets mounted a late-game rally on Tuesday evening but fell just short, losing 6-5 to the Braves in Atlanta. New York notched 12 hits in the loss, tied for their most of the season, but their pitching was unable to hold the Braves in check.

Adrian Houser (0-1) took the mound for New York and pitched five innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits while issuing two walks and striking out one batter. His season ERA now stands at 5.40.

Photo by Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

The Braves struck first with a run in the opening inning when Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit by a pitch and then stole a base. The next batter, Ozzie Albies, doubled to bring him home. Atlanta extended their lead with three more runs in the third, stringing together six consecutive singles off a struggling Houser. However, the Mets managed to escape a bases-loaded jam with a crucial tag from Omar Narváez at the plate and a timely 6-4-3 double play.

New York threatened in the fourth after two walks, but Jeff McNeil grounded out to leave the runners stranded. Austin Riley‘s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth widened the Braves’ lead to 5-0.

Dedniel Nuñez took over for Houser in the sixth inning in his Major League debut. Nuñez was called up on Tuesday after Julio Teheran was designated for assignment following his start for the Mets on Monday. Although the Braves loaded the bases again with three straight singles, Nuñez limited the damage to just one run. He then pitched a scoreless seventh and notched three total strikeouts in the outing, with his velocity topping out at an impressive at 98 mph.

The Mets mounted a comeback effort late in the game, scoring five runs in the final two innings to mak things interesting. In the eighth, Narváez and Brandon Nimmo each singled before Pete Alonso trimmed the Braves’ lead with a three-run homer off of Tyler Matzek, marking his third home run of the season.

After Cole Sulser pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Harrison Bader kickstarted the Mets’ offense again in the ninth with his second hit of the game. Narváez followed up with an RBI double to drive in Bader, and Starling Marte added an RBI groundout making it a one-run game at 6-5 in favor of the Mets.

 

Francisco Lindor‘s single put the tying run on base for the Mets, but Alonso struck out to end the rally a run short. The loss evens up the four-game series in Atlanta at one game apiece.

Player of the Game: Pete Alonso

Despite the result of his final plate appearance, Alonso earns Tuesday’s honor with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including his three-run home run. Alonso is the only Met to reach three home runs thus far this season.

On Deck

Jose Quintana (0-1, 2.61) will take the mound for New York on Wednesday evening in the third fame of the four-game set with Atlanta. The Braves starter will be Allan Winans, who will be making his season debut. SNY will air the game at 7:20 p.m. ET