The Mets cracked three homeruns in the first inning, then put the game on cruise control for a matter-of-fact 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.
David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda all homered, sandwiched around a Michael Conforto single off Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz. Those were all the runs starter Bartolo Colon would need. Colon was his usual imperturbable self, pitching eight easy innings, scattering seven hits and striking out seven. Colon was so much on his game that he didn’t go to a three-ball count on anyone until facing leadoff man Nick Markakis in the eighth inning. He was helped a bit by some sparkling infield defense from Asdrubal Cabrera, who made a beautiful catch with his back to the plate on a popup by Erick Aybar and from Lucas Duda, who made a great diving stop to rob Mallex Smith — “possibly the fastest man in the National League,” according to Gary Cohen — of a base hit. Jeurys Familia came on for the ninth, surrendering a leadoff double to Adonis Garcia, and a two-out single to Aybar for the lone Braves blemish on this game.
The Mets and Washington Nationals will be in a dogfight all year. It is quite possible that the NL East will be determined by who has a better record against these woeful Braves.
Matt Harvey faces Matt Wisler tomorrow night.
What seems quite probablematic to me is that the Mets have scored in only one inning per game these last three games. They aren’t able to manufacture runs and add on, and against a good pitcher like Bumgarner who limits damage, they cannot string together enough hits to steal a run here or there, or to add-on runs. Furthermore, I’m in a good mood tonight and feel like busting balls. And while I know they also scored a run in the eighth on Saturday, I’m not going to let it get in the way and hoping some of y’all forgot.
So true Gus. I was thinking about doing a tally of how many inning we have scored in and compare with a few other top teams. We seem to be feast or famine. And against good pitchers more famine.
Typical Met rally, three homeruns in an inning. It is difficult to play small ball when the bases keep getting cleared. It is what it is. One good pitcher kept them in check. Should they cut the swings down on the other nine pitchers they beat in the last ten games? That is a .900 winning percentage! Blast ball! Embrace it!
Amen!
I get the feeling that if the Mets had scored the exact same amount of runs but had a Braves-like total of homers that some people would be complaining about the lack of the long ball because it’s too hard to depend on stringing 4 or 5 hits together against good pitchers.
Brian, did you read my comment all the way to the bottom?
Of course I did.
My reply was to Metsense, not to you. And I was not addressing anyone in particular when I said “some people.”
Well really its is hard to play small ball when you have second and third and 1 out but cannot produce a single, or even a sac fly consistently.
Im the first to admit this style of baseball defies gravity to my eyes. Id rather see endless hits. But in the end all that matters are runs and wins. If this team can continue to hit HR as their sole means of scoring, so be it…I just hope that well doesnt dry up.
Chris, you’ll have another reason to dislike the Nats, then. They’re 5th in homers and only 9th in scoring. Mets are 4th/6th.
I hate the Nats. I dont need any additional reasons, nor do I hold them as some empirical model the Mets need to strive to be.
Ive said it many times, I dislike Walk and HR as a way to win. On the other hand I like winning, so if this works so be it.
The Mets are not going to play Small Ball… the HR barrage and HR centered scoring will probably wane to some degree—and the RISP and non-HR scoring will increase somewhat.
This team is built on Starting Pitching, Power, and a Dominant Closer— They is what They is!
Love the Is-Ness!!!
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It’s about scoring runs.
It strikes me as absurd to complain about how.
That said: Power is a great thing to have.
The Mets are slow. Six SBs all season, four CS. That’s reality. Unless you want to start trading folks away, this is the deal.
Turn it around. The Braves are doing all the things “some people” would like to see from the Mets offense. Look at all the runs they score with only 5 home runs! Amazing!
One stat I came across today: Mets HR every 22 AB. Braves, every 168 AB.