Chris Young Scores, But Mets Blow 3-0 Lead
The Mets opened up a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field tonight with Zack Wheeler facing off against Alex Wood. The Mets, seven games out of first coming into tonight, looked to inch their way back into contention with a crucial series versus the division leaders.
What you should know:
The Mets got off to an early start in the first inning, with Curtis Granderson hitting a leadoff homerun, his eleven on the campaign.
In the second inning, the Mets added on to their lead with a Travis d’Arnaud double that scored Chris Young, making it 2-0 New York.
Chris Young would hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning, scoring Daniel Murphy, as the Mets now held a 3-0 lead.
Zack Wheeler most definitely deserved a win tonight as he pitched 6 and 1/3rd’s innings, allowing only one run — a Freddie Freeman sacrifice fly in the fifth — and only allowing four hits, while walking five and striking out four.
Wheeler was set up for the win, but the Mets, whom imploded defensively in the bottom of the eighth inning with a throwing error by Jeurys Familia, a bobble by Lagares in the outfield, and a mishap by Campbell at first, the Braves tacked on four runs, taking the lead 5-3.
Craig Kimbrel came on and shut the door in the top of the ninth, setting the Mets down 1,2,3.
Thoughts:
Well, that was disappointing to say the least, but just when you think you’ve seen it all from the Mets, things like this happen. In such an important series, and a game that looked like the Mets were going to win, they end up losing, and looking like a Little League team. The whole eighth inning could have been avoided, and Wheeler should have gotten a win, but the Mets faltered and the Braves took advantage. Now they fall eight games behind Atlanta in the standings and are sinking further and further as each day passes, and right now, it looks like the Mets are going to have yet another terrible, losing season. Sigh.
Final score: Braves 5, Mets 3
Winning pitcher: Anthony Varvaro (3-1)
Losing pitcher: Jeurys Familia (1-3)
Save: Craig Kimbrel (25)
On deck:
The Mets look to even up the series tomorrow night against Atlanta with Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2, 3.23 ERA) squaring off against Mike Minor (2-5, 4.50 ERA).
