Mets Series Review: Proving Grounds
The New York Mets passed a significant test, winning two of three in a series against the Braves in Atlanta. The Mets were shorthanded as two significant bats, and James McCann were unavailable. Starling Marte was resting a strained groin, and Jeff McNeil was on paternity leave. The Mets got strong starting pitching and timely hitting to cool off the Braves and increase their lead in the NL East to two and a half games.
The series began on Monday after the Mets were fortunate to split a four-game series with the Marlins. Their lead was down to a game and a half, as Starling Marte avoided the injured list but was unlikely to play with a "tight groin," while Jeff McNeil was home in Calfornia as his wife gave birth to his first child. The good news was that the Mets had Max Scherzer on the mound, which would be when the off-season signing would pay off. Scherzer would deliver the start of the season, allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts to outduel Max Fried.
The Mets took the lead in the third inning on a double by Pete Alonso, adding a second run when Luis Guillerome hit into a fielder's choice as the Braves failed to turn a double play. The Braves got on the board with a home run by Austin Riley in the seventh. Marcel Ozuna followed with a double, but Scherzer struck out Eddie Rosario to end his day. The Mets got the run back right away as Guillorme homered against Darren O'Day. The Mets turned to Edwin Diaz to end the game as he struck out the side to earn his 19th save, winning 4-1 as Alonso added a second RBI in the ninth.
After their big win on Monday, the Mets had David Peterson on the mound, looking to bounce back from a bad outing in Cincinnati. Peterson was terrific as he held the Braves off the board for five innings. The Mets, meanwhile, took the lead with a triple by Francisco Lindor in the fifth. However, the Mets had chances to add and failed as Spencer Strider struggled with his command but allowed only one run.
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The game turned in the sixth when Peterson hit the corner but did not get the strike three call against Dansby Swanson. After Swanson walked, Matt Olson hit a two-run homer after fouling off several pitches during a 3-2 count. Seth Lugo came on to complete the sixth but gave up a two-run bomb to Adam Duvall as the Braves won the game 4-1 to even the series.
The rubber game started on Wednesday at high noon, with Chris Bassitt taking the mound for the Mets against Charlie Morton. The Mets drew first blood again as Eduardo Escobar homered in the second. They added three more runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead, while Mark Canha made it 5-0 with a home run in the sixth. That would be all Bassitt needed as he was brilliant, giving up one run on five hits in six innings.
After Matt Olson homered in the sixth, the Mets stretched their lead to 7-1 as Francisco Lindor reached base on an error by Olson, sparking a two-run rally. The first run scored on a double by Luis Guillorme, while Lindor came on a balk by Jesse Chavez. Drew Smith pitched two innings, giving up a home run to Austin Riley, while Tommy Hunter finished the game, giving up a home run to Eddie Rosario as the Mets won 7-3, making a big statement in Atlanta.