That’s what you call a team win. The Mets came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Braves 6-4 in Atlanta to start the three-game series. The win, the Mets’ sixth in a row, keeps them at least ahead for the second wild card, possibly even the first, pending the outcome of the Giants-Diamondbacks game.
As usual, the Mets struggled against Braves ace Julio Teheran, managing just two hits in the first five innings. Mets starter Robert Gsellman looked very sharp his first two turns through the Braves order but coughed up three runs in the fifth. The Mets finally scored off Teheran in the sixth with a single by Yoenis Cespedes, followed by a two-run home run from the suddenly red hot Curtis Granderson. That’s right, there was a man on base this time.
The Mets bats came alive against the Braves relievers in the eighth with the big blow an RBI double by Kelly Johnson. They went on to score four in the inning. The Mets defense was exceptional and the bullpen held the Braves scoreless the rest of the way with Jeurys Familia locking it down for his team record 48th save.
The series continues tomorrow night with Bartolo Colon on the mound vs. former Mets prospect John Gant. A win would put the Mets 10 games over .500. Amazing. With 21 games left, things are certainy looking up for the replaceMets.
That’s 8 HR in his last 58 ABs for Granny.
The unheralded hero tonight was Josh Smoker, who came on with runners on the corners and nobody out. He got a strikeout and a DP.
15-4 in their last 19. This is a Dave Wottle-like kick.
Granderson is heating up at the right time.
Dave Wottle!!!!!!
The game featured a Matchup of two Alderson Draft Picks from the 2011 Draft, Gant and Gsellman. Interesting!
Gsellman has a live arm and a good mix.
This run is Amazing!
Dave Wottle, loved that guy!
I really thought they had little chance to win with that pitching matchup. Was out last night, checked the score when it was 4-0, and it confirmed by suspicions. Can’t win them all. And then, somehow, they won. Just like when they prevailed over the Marlins in the Fernandez-Montero game. When a team wins those games, something special is going on. Season has a ’73 vibe for me. A moribund team, left for dead, springing to life! Amazing.
Did I ever mention that Kelly Johnson should be starting? Tonight we face John Gant, better known as the pawn in the first Kelly Johnson trade. Interesting. No fan would have ever thought Gant would be pitching in the 2016 starting Met rotation, so he was available. No fan would have thought Gsellman, Lugo or Montero would be pitching either.
Granderson is the new “hot hand” for the moment.
A victory today and it is another series win!