Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets (16-14) brought home the win in game two of a doubleheader against the division-rival Braves (19-10) on Monday afternoon at Citi Field. The Mets notched nine hits in the game, and Mets pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts. Drew Smith took home the win, and David Robertson earned the save in the triumph.
Mets struck first and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and scored on a Daniel Vogelbach double that drove in Jeff McNeil, who reached via a base hit. The 106.1 mph double was Vogelbach’s second-hardest batted ball of the season so far. New York picked up another run in the fifth after Brett Baty doubled, Brandon Nimmo notched a one-out single, and Starling Marte sent a base hit to center field to make it 2-0.
Tylor Megill got the start for New York and tossed six innings, allowing three runs on four hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. The Braves picked up the lead in the sixth with a three-run inning. After allowing just two hits prior, Megill gave up a leadoff double to Chadwick Tromp, and walked Matt Olson and Sean Murphy to load the bases for Atlanta. Then with two outs, Eddie Rosario knocked a two-base hit to drive in all three runners and make it 3-2, Braves. Drew Smith took over for Megill and got the last out of the frame.
In the home half of the sixth, Daniel Vogelbach and Mark Canha drew back-to-back one-out walks to put the go-ahead run on base.With two outs, Francisco Alvarez doubled to score the pair and put New York back on top, 4-3.
Drew Smith returned to the mound in the seventh and allowed a walk, and struck out two. David Robertson pitched the eighth inning, and allowed one hit, with two strikeouts.
McNeil knocked a solo home run, his second of the year, in the bottom of the eighth to extend the Mets lead, 5-3.
Robertson came back out for the ninth and sealed the win with a scoreless frame. He allowed a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies, but quickly struck out his next two batters and induced a pop out to earn the save. To start his Mets career, Robertson now has tossed 13 and 1/3 innings, allowed just one earned run, and is 6-for-6 in save chances.
Player of the Game: Francisco Alvarez
Francisco Alvarez earns the Player of the Game honor with a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate, including a do-ahead double in the seventh.
On Deck:
The Mets kick off a three-game series against the Tigers in Detroit on Tuesday evening.
Joey Luchessi (1-0, 2.19 ERA) will take the mound for New York. In his last outing, against the Nationals the left-hander tossed five and 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits, with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 7.07 ERA) will get the start for Detroit. In the right-hander’s last time out, he threw five frames against the Brewers and allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Fans can catch the action at Comerica Park on SNY and WCBS 880.
