Mets Use Long Ball To Take Rubber Match 7-3 From Braves

The New York Mets took on the Atlanta Braves in the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon looking to add to their 1 1/2 game lead in the National League East. The Mets took the series opener on Monday behind a gem from Max Scherzer, but the Braves bounced back and took the second game behind a couple of two-run home runs. The Mets took the game 7-3 to take the series by beating the Braves at their own game and hitting three home runs, the biggest being a three-run home run from Francisco Lindor.

Chris Bassitt took the mound for the Mets coming off three consecutive quality starts against Miami, and continued his run of success. He allowed just one run on five hits and two walks over six strong innings while striking out six hitters.

With the lineup not at full strength due to the absences of Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil, the Mets showed off their defense to start the day. After Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, he was caught stealing on a perfect throw from Tomás Nido.

In the next half inning, Eduardo Escobar got the scoring started for the Mets. After Charlie Morton retired the first two batters to start the second inning, Escobar hit a no-doubt shot to right field for his tenth home run of the season to put the Mets ahead 1-0.

The Mets added to that lead in the third inning. Nido led off the inning with a walk, and Brandon Nimmo followed with a single up the middle. Lindor came up having struggled mightily in his career against Morton, hitting just .074 (2-27) against the veteran right-hander after his first-inning ground out. With the count at 2-2, Lindor turned on a 96 MPH fastball and hit it to the seats in right field to extend the Mets’ lead to 4-0. The home run was Lindor’s 16th of the season, and with 64 RBIs on the season, he surpassed his total from all of 2021.

After the Mets left two runners on in the top of the fourth, the Braves had a chance of their own to cut into the Mets’ four run lead. Austin Riley blooped a one-out single into shallow right field and was replaced on the bases on a fielder’s choice from William Contreras. Eddie Rosario singled and took second on the throw in to put two runners in scoring position with two outs for Adam Duvall. Duvall hit a first pitch slider, but Lindor made the play on the grass in left field and threw a strike to first base to strand the two runners and keep the Braves off the scoreboard. It was the third consecutive inning that the Braves stranded a runner on second base.

The Mets’ home run barrage continued in the top of the sixth inning. Mark Canha led off the inning with his seventh home run of the year after an eight-pitch at-bat against Morton.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Braves finally got to Bassitt. Matt Olson, Bassitt’s teammate in Oakland for the past six years, hit a high change-up just over the centerfield wall for his second home run in as many days to cut the Mets’ lead to 5-1. The home run did not affect Bassitt though, and he retired the next three Braves hitters to finish the six innings with just the one run allowed.

After driving in the Braves’ first run in the sixth, Olson made a costly error that helped the Mets get two runs right back in the seventh. With Nimmo on first base after a leadoff single, Lindor hit a 105 MPH one-hopper right at Olson. The two-time Gold Glover tried to turn and throw to second before he made the play, and he dropped the ball and lost both outs. Nimmo would come in to score on a double from Luis Guillorme, and Lindor scored on a balk by Jesse Chavez to give the Mets a 7-1 lead.

Drew Smith came into the game in the seventh inning, and gave the Mets two good innings. He struck out five Braves in his two inning, and he allowed just one run on a solo shot by Riley. The trend of giving up home runs had been an issue lately for Smith, but with Riley hitting home runs almost at will lately, Smith’s two innings of work is still a positive outing.

With a five run lead, the Mets turned to Tommy Hunter to close out the game. After Rosario hit a lead-off home run, Hunter retired the next three batters to close out the series win for the Mets.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

The Mets needed their top players to step up with two All-Stars missing from the lineup in Atlanta, and that is exactly what Lindor did. Lindor’s three-run home run in the third inning set the tone by giving the Mets an early four-run lead. He finished the day with three RBIs and two runs scored, and he played his typical great defense.

On Deck

The Mets will wrap up the first half with a four game series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday at 8:05 p.m. ET. Carlos Carrasco (9-4, 4.55 ERA) will start the series opener for the Mets. He went 5 2/3 innings in his last start against the Marlins, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. The Cubs have not officially named a starter for the game, but Keegan Thompson (7-3, 3.04 ERA) is in line to make the start. With a 34-53 record, it hasn’t been a great year on the North Side of Chicago, but Thompson has been one of the few bright spots for the Cubs. The right-hander is coming off an outing where he allowed just one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings against the Dodgers.

The game will be televised on SNY, and the radio call will be on WCBS 880.