Tylor MegillTylor Megill returned to the mound on Wednesday afternoon to face the Atlanta Braves five days after being part of the historic combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.

While the final result against Atlanta was a far cry from that of the no-hitter on Friday, Megill did, however, begin his start in similar fashion.

In the first inning, the 26-year-old struck out Ronald Acuna Jr. on three pitches to kick off his afternoon. Megill then received some defensive help from Francisco Lindor to get Matt Olson out on a ground ball hit to the right side of the infield. He ended the inning with a foul tip strikeout of Austin Riley on an 89 MPH changeup low in the zone.

Megill had another 1-2-3 inning in the second. He attacked the three hitters he faced; with only three of the 15 pitches he threw being taken as balls. He also picked up his third and fourth strikeout of the day to begin and end the inning.

In the third inning, Megill retired Adam Duvall on a groundout before allowing his first baserunner of the day. The one baserunner was Dansby Swanson who Megill issued a walk to after getting ahead in the count 0-2. The Braves were kept off the board as Megill struck out Guillermo Heredia with his changeup and got Acuna to fly out on his changeup.

Megill’s impressive run continued into the fourth. After walking Olson during a nine-pitch at-bat, Megill went to work on his next three batters faced. He struck out Riley on a 96 MPH four-seam fastball. He then mixed his changeup, four-seamer, and slider in a three-pitch strikeout of Ozuna, which was aided by a generously called third strike. Megill finished the inning by retiring Albies on a groundout. That final out of the inning extended Megill’s hitless streak to 27 batters going back to his last start.

Megill’s hitless streak came to an end in the fifth inning. Travis d’Arnaud reached base on an error by Lindor before Duvall grounded a ball to left field for a single. That didn’t faze Megill though, as he got Swanson to fly out, and both Heredia and Acuna to strike out swinging, giving him a season-high nine strikeouts for the day.

After five terrific innings, Megill ran into some trouble in the sixth. After retiring Olson on a flyout, Megill allowed three-straight singles. The first hit was originally ruled an out before the call was reviewed and overturned. The next two hits were line drives to right field which prompted Buck Showalter to pull Megill in favor of Adam Ottavino.

Ottavino, who worked his third straight day in a row, allowed all three of his inherited runners to score on a walk and two hits. His performance changed the line on Megill.

“It makes, statistically, Tylor’s outing look a lot different than it actually was,” said Buck Showalter.

Overall Megill used 94 pitches across 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball. He struck out nine batters, while giving up four hits and two walks. He was charged with his first loss of the season, bringing his record to 4-1. It was also the Mets’ first loss in one of his starts this year, as they were a perfect 5-0 when he took the mound coming into the game.

Despite the undesirable ending, Megill was able to follow up five no-hit innings in his last start with another four no-hit innings in this start to throw the equivalent of a no-hitter.

“End of the day that’s my job,” Megill said regarding his nine consecutive hitless innings. “It’s to go out there and not allow a hit. Cool stat but end of the day just trying to pitch.”

Megill will take the mound again next week in the nation’s capital to face the Washington Nationals for his second time this season.