ATLANTA — Over three nights in Atlanta, the Mets waited on an enormous hit that by no means got here.
The Atlanta Braves, nonetheless, had no drawback beating up on the Mets’ pitching employees. They knocked out starters early twice and hit the New York bullpen as properly.
The Mets had been swept in a three-game collection, with the Braves taking the finale 7-1. With the dropping streak at a season-high six video games and the rotation in tatters, the Mets are abruptly reeling. They now share the NL East lead with the Philadelphia Phillies, and head to Philadelphia for a three-game collection this weekend and not using a beginning pitcher lined up Friday evening.
Proper-hander Clay Holmes was pulled within the fifth inning after strolling within the go-ahead run. Down 2-1, Husascar Brazobán acquired out of the inning, however couldn’t get out of the sixth. The suitable-hander loaded the bases with one out earlier than giving up a bases-clearing double to Matt Olson, leaving the Mets in a 6-1 gap.
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza then went to the bullpen once more, bringing in right-hander Justin Hagenman, who had been known as up earlier within the day from Triple-A Syracuse to begin Friday evening. The potential for utilizing Hagenman was all the time there. Mendoza acknowledged it earlier than the sport began, saying Hagenman was lively and within the bullpen, however that he would keep away from making an attempt to burn his Friday starter.
It was unavoidable. At that time, the Mets wanted somebody who may go lengthy to save lots of the bullpen for the weekend. With seven extra video games till an off-day, the bullpen needed to change into a precedence.
Hagenman allowed Olson to attain on a single within the sixth, however then gave the Mets the size they wanted, going 2 2/3 innings.
The Mets had been in it till the fifth. Ronny Mauricio snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak with an RBI single off Spencer Strider within the backside of the second. Tyrone Taylor hit a one-out single off Strider and stole second, and with two outs, Mauricio despatched him dwelling for simply his third RBI of the season.
The Mets held a 1-0 lead till the Braves tied it within the backside of the fourth.
Strider didn’t give them a lot to work with. Atlanta altered its rotation forward of the collection to throw their three greatest pitchers, Spencer Schwellenbach, reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner Chris Sale, and at last, Strider, who’s now 5-1 in opposition to the Mets in his profession.
Strider restricted the Mets to just one earned run on 5 hits over six innings, strolling one and placing out eight. He struck out the facet within the fourth, retiring seven straight and 12 of 13 to complete his outing.
Holmes went 4 2/3 innings within the loss (7-4), giving up two earned runs on 4 hits, struggling to search out the strike zone with six walks. He struck out 5.
The Mets (45-30) will see the Braves (34-39) once more subsequent week for 4 video games at dwelling. If Atlanta retains taking part in like this, the 2 groups could also be battling each other for the postseason in September for the second straight yr.
