The Mets (17-9) defeated the Braves (7-20) this afternoon at Citi Field by a score of 8-0. Here’s how it happened.
Offense:
Another day, another offensive explosion via the home run ball.
The Mets got things started in the second inning offensively when recent call-up Rene Rivera knocked a two-run shot, his first home run as a Met. Rivera has shown a little pop throughout his career, hitting 11 homers two years ago in 294 at-bats with San Diego.
The Mets put another crooked number on the board the next inning as Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run shot that scored Curtis Granderson and put the Mets up 4-0. That marked Cabrera’s second home run of the year and brought his overall batting line up to .305/.366/.435.
After that it was Lucas Duda who extended the Mets’ lead with another one of those pesky multi-home run days. Duda hit a ball 413 feet to center in the the third inning, scoring Yoenis Cespedes. His next at-bat in the fifth, he hit another home run to center field, this one a solo shot. Duda’s line now sits at .258/.299/.528 on the year.
The struggling Wilmer Flores got the start at third today instead of David Wright, and had a good afternoon at the plate. Flores went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run-scoring double in the fifth inning, scoring the Mets’ eighth and final run.
The Met offense ended the game with eight hits, five walks, and eight runs, with most of that damage coming against Braves starter Jhoulys Chacin.
Pitching:
Steven Matz toed the rubber today and for the fourth start in a row, was outstanding. Matz allowed just two hits in 7.2 innings of work and didn’t walk a single batter. He struck out eight Atlanta hitters and threw 78 of his 106 pitches for strikes. Despite that awful first start, Matz already has his season ERA down to 2.83.
The Met bullpen had no trouble finishing off the Braves, with Jim Henderson finishing the eighth for Matz and Addison Reed striking out three Braves in the ninth.
With the win, the Met took the three-game series and kept up with the Nationals, who will win their game this afternoon as well. The Mets have now won ten of their last 12.
On Deck:
The Mets begin a four-game road series with the Padres tomorrow night at 10:10 as Jacob deGrom (17.2 IP, 1.02 ERA) takes on Colin Rea (27.1 IP, 4.63 ERA).
