The Mets dropped a heartbreaker to the Braves, 4-1, in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon after a blown call at first base gave Atlanta an extra out and Chris Johnson blasted a go-ahead three-run homer off reliever Greg Burke. Ugh…
Jon Niese started and delivered another solid performance allowing one run in 7.0 innings and racking up nine strikeouts. He was cruising along until the top of the sixth, when Niese gave everyone a scare and let one get away from him striking Jason Heyward in the jaw with a 90-mph fastball.
Heyward dropped to the ground and stayed down for a while until being walked off with help from his teammate and trainer. His jaw was fractured. Hate to see things like this…
The whole scene seemed to rattle Niese who followed that by allowing back to back singles to Atlanta who scored the tying run that would end up sending the game into extra innings.
The crucial moment in the game came in the bottom of the tenth. With a runner on first and two outs, Freddie Freeman hit a come-backer to reliever Scott Rice who picked up the ball and fired it to first base for what should have been the third out. However, Freeman was called safe by umpire Jerry Layne, prompting Collins to come out and argue to no avail. Collins was ejected from the game. Greg Burke then comes in to relieve Rice, and Chris Johnson greeted him with a three-run homer to give the Braves the 4-1 lead and that’s where this sad story ends.
SATIN ROUNDING THE BASES TODAY
Josh Satin had another huge performance against a lefthander and keeps proving why Ike Davis belongs on the bench when a southpaw is starting. All Satin did was crush a solo home run and was on base three times to raise his average to .303 on the season. He has torched lefties to the tune of a 1.120 OPS this season, the best mark on the Mets.
That was all the offense for the Mets who continue to struggle to score runs. It seems like it’s always feast or famine. Daniel Murphy had a pair of hits batting second, and Wilmer Flores got on base twice while batting seventh; once on a walk and the other on a single.
It happened again… Juan Lagares with yet another outfield assist as he nailed Andrelton Simmons at second base after he tried stretching a single into a double. Yes, this is why I’ve loved this guy… This is why I’ve been calling him the best defender in the whole damn system… This is why he should be our everyday centerfielder in 2014 and beyond… A stud in the making who will win his first Gold Glove… Lagares is no longer just a Mets sensation, his elite defense is now common knowledge throughout the league.
So the Mets end up splitting the two game series and get a well deserved day off tomorrow. On Friday, the Detroit Tigers roll into town for a three-game set and Jacob deGrom Carlos Torres (2-2, 3.00) will oppose Doug Fister (10-6, 3.63) at 7:10PM.
