Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets took on their divisional rival Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening, the second game of a day-night doubleheader. Carlos Carrasco got the ball to start game two while the Mets looked to sweep the day after a 5-4 win in the afternoon. It was the Mets who came out on top by the score of 3-0, completing the doubleheader sweep.

Brandon Nimmo got the Mets offense rolling in the first inning with a leadoff base hit. Jeff McNeil beat the shift shortly after by shooting a ground ball into the open area where the shortstop would have been playing in the past. After a Pete Alonso ground out, Dominic Smith doubled down the left-field line, plating Nimmo and McNeil to get on the board early. Smith followed up his four-hit night on Monday, picking up right where he left off.

Carrasco started his night by allowing an extra-base hit to Ronald Acuña Jr.–a bullet past the third-base bag. However, he was able to sit down the Braves heart of the order afterward, getting Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna in order.

Carrasco ran into some trouble early in the second inning, allowing back-to-back singles to Ozzie Albies and Adam Duvall. Once again, Carrasco was able to settle down and allow no harm by striking out Dansby Swanson and William Contreras, both swinging, to keep the Braves scoreless.

After the second inning, it was easy going for Carrasco, who settled in and may have had his best start so far this season. His slider was snapping to all the right locations, and showed his ability to keep the tough Braves lineup unbalanced. The Braves offense went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the nightcap.

McNeil earned his second hit of the night in the third inning, also the second time he beat the shift with a ground ball. Alonso dumped one into right field for a base knock, allowing McNeil to advance to third base with two outs. Right-hander Kyle Wright got Dominic Smith to roll over to end the inning, stranding two runners on base as the Mets tried to extend their lead.

Olson provided the most offense for Atlanta, collecting two doubles off Carrasco, one in the sixth inning and the other coming in the eighth. Neither extra-base hit led to any scoring though.

Late in the game, Max Scherzer was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Jeremy Riggs after he called a third strike way outside the zone on Smith. Even when he is not physically playing in the game, Scherzer continues to show the fiery competitiveness he possesses.

Alonso homered in the sixth inning, his fifth long ball on the season, extending the lead to 3-0. It was Wright’s first home run allowed in 2022. Alonso finished the day with two hits, along with McNeil. The Mets offense totaled nine hits and one walk.

Player of the Game: Carlos Carrasco

Carrasco improved his record to 2-1 this season, handing Wright his first loss. Pitching eight scoreless innings in a close win, Carrasco tallied five strikeouts, allowing two walks, and had the ability to escape a few jams. He has impressed early this season and has seemed to find a rhythm. He is an important asset to this Mets roster, showing exactly that in this game.

On Deck:

The Mets will face the Braves on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. at Citi Field. They’ll look to make it eight straight series victories to begin the season, which would extend their franchise record of most series’ wins to open the year.

Tylor Megill, fresh off his participation in the Mets’ second no-hitter ever, will pitch for the Mets, while Ian Anderson (2-1, 4.76 ERA) will start for the Braves.