Max Scherzer was terrific and the Mets got 2-RBI outings from both Pete Alonso and Luis Guillorme en route to a 4-1 win over the Braves Monday night in Atlanta.
Scherzer was lights out from the start, as he allowed just one hit the first 6.2 IP, a scratch single that went off the glove of a sliding Guillorme.
Meanwhile, the Mets got to Atlanta ace Max Fried for two runs. Brandon Nimmo doubled and scored on a double by Alonso. And Alonso scored on a fielder’s choice by Guillorme. The Mets had other chances against Fried and while they weren’t able to cash those in, they served to drive up his pitch count. Fried was out of the game after five innings.
Scherzer ran into trouble in the seventh inning, as he gave up back-to-back extra-base hits, including a homer to Austin Riley for the Braves’ only run. But he struck out Eddie Rosario to end the seventh with the tying run on second base. It was the ninth strikeout of the game for Scherzer, who lowered his ERA to 2.15 with his outstanding effort against the hot-hitting Braves.
The Mets got the run right back with a solo homer by Guillorme in the eighth inning. And they added an additional insurance run in the ninth, as Alonso again drove in Nimmo, this time with a fielder’s choice.
Adam Ottavino got thru the eighth inning and Buck Showalter called on Edwin Diaz to pitch the third straight game in the ninth. Diaz showed no signs of fatigue, as he struck out all three batters he faced to record his 19th save of the year.
Mets fans have always dreaded whenever Freddie Freeman came to the plate. The Braves have got an excellent replacement in Matt Olson. But Olson struck out four times in the game. It seemed like Freeman never did that. But he wore the sombrero three times against the Mets. That’s three times in 192 games.
Great first game effort, but that was with their best pitcher. Max earned his statue tonight! Still, they had to beat the Braves best pitcher. Now, Peterson and Bassitt need to step up. Peterson first. The Mets looked like a team that was psyched up for this game. Time to make a statement!
Great win. One of the best of the season. The Braves havent really faced a level of competition like the Mets during their surge.
Agree with both comments above. Although the squandered too many early opportunities, the Mets looked like they came to play. Of course, dominating pitching usually creates that look. Max and Edwin were tremendous in a game they really had to have. Kudos.
Gut Reaction: this was two very good teams squaring off with different hitting philosophies. The Braves rely on the home run and don’t care about strikeouts. The Mets rely on contact to score runs. Both teams have superior pitching. On this day, the Mets drove two runs by fielder’s choice ground outs and Scherzer, Ottavino and a dominant Diaz reduced the Braves power to a trickle. It was a good win. LGM
P.S. Guillorme had a good game with two extra-base hits and he deserve start in a platoon with Escobar. He is having a solid season.
Great start to this series. I’m sure Braves fans were waiting to get Max out to do their damage but the pen held after 7 strong innings. We also got the win with out McNeil and Marte, two of our all stars, in the lineup. Nido called a nice game but still can’t hit MLB pitching. Luis continues to make a play for more playing time after a long drop off period. Getting that run right back is the sign of a good team and he killed that baseball. We continue to get nadda at the plate from Davis and Escobar although thankfully E can field his position. All I’m looking for is another series win to take the wind out of the Brave’s sails. A sweep is unrealistic in their house even without Freddie on their team. Petersen is now fighting for a spot in the rotation with Jake’s return likely after the all star game. We are a much better first place club then last year. LGM
86, can E field his position? How well? Not only does he have negative WAR on FanGraphs offensively, he has defensively too! The first play I saw last night when I was finally able to see some of the game was a ground ball off the third base line that Escobar still had to dive for and had it hit the top of his glove and go down the line. I’m not seeing this great defense, and that’s before I mention that he never went back to cover his base on Saturday on that ground ball in the hole so Lindor’s throw went awry. He appears to be a Roberto Alomar tract, in that he seems to be cratering earlier in his career.
Listening to the radio last week, they mentioned that Guillorme had developed a blister on his hand and it effected his batting. They noted his big drop in average as a possible side effect to that but since he sans the batting gloves, the blister may be healing.
I’m with Gus 100% on Escobar. Other than a hot weekend against Texas, he has been abysmal at bat and not good in the field. So far he’s been a huge bust and I don’t understand why he’s gotten the long leash that he has.
Bob, you have to understand, he’s such a great guy. We get it rammed down our throats from Showalter, the announcers, anyone and everyone. Just think, this is a lifetime 95 RC+ player, that means 5% worse offensively than just an average player, that they hold is such high regard He is such a great guy.
Well let’s find him a spot on the coaching staff and get him off the field!
The Braves ops against off speed stuff is atrocious. If Peterson can command his slider tonight the Mets can take advantage. Another low scoring game most likely. Who closes? Lugo?