Starling Marte hit two home runs and made a nice running catch to end the game with the tying run at the plate, as the Mets held on for a 9-7 win against the Braves Wednesday night in Atlanta, snapping their eight-game winning streak.
Marte put the Mets up in the first inning with a solo shot to center field. On the next pitch, Francisco Lindor homered to give Max Scherzer a 2-0 lead before he even took the mound. The Mets extended to a 4-0 lead when Bret Baty, in his first at-bat in the majors, crushed a two-run homer to right field.
The game had a 35-minute rain delay and there was worry about how Scherzer would fare. But he hit his stride after they returned to action and it looked like it was going to be a laugher. Mark Canha had an RBI double in the sixth and Marte hit his second homer of the night in the seventh to give the Mets a 6-1 lead.
But Scherzer lost his command in the seventh inning and left with the bases loaded. The Braves scored four in the inning, three on a home run, and it was a ball game at 6-5.
After the Mets failed to cash when they opened the eighth inning with a leadoff double, Buck Showalter went to Edwin Diaz for the bottom of the eighth. He was lights out again, retiring the side on 10 pitches and it looked like he was going to get the ninth, too.
That plan changed when the Mets scored three runs in their half of the ninth inning, with their struggling middle of the order hitters final coming thru. Pete Alonso drilled a two-run single and then proceeded to steal second base. He scored on a double by Daniel Vogelbach and it looked like the Mets would have a comfortable win.
Trevor May came on for the final inning but gave up two runs. With a runner on first base, Ronald Acuna drilled a ball into the right center field gap. But Marte, who earlier in the game did an alligator arm play on a ball near the wall, made a nice running catch to finally give the Mets the win.
Second time this year Marte alligator armed the ball going to the right center field wall.
I only saw the ninth inning, thank God. I don’t think I could have handled the entire pitching meltdown. What the heck was that meatball Ottavino threw to Grossman? And May’s flat fast down the pipe to Grissom? Yuck!
Great job by the bats doing what needed to be done. But, it’s incredible how many balls on screws the Braves hit. Even Robbie Grossman, who is supposed to be terrible against righties, puts on a Braves uniform and he thinks he’s Ted Williams.
A bit of criticism on the ninth inning stolen base by Harris. After coasting to first on the earlier referenced flyball that Marte couldn’t reach (“business decision” as Deion Sanders would call it), I knew Harris would try to steal second to make up for his mistake; the entire stadium should have known. Why not throw through and try to gain an out? McCann just threw out Acuna stealing and Harris couldn’t be caught? Even if the runner scores. Ia a double steal attempt, it could have been two outs if McCann nabs him, up three runs and bases empty. I hope it wasn’t to worry about May’s ERA. I just felt that was poor planning by someone and an opportunity to trade a possible run for a possible out in the ninth inning of a four run game.
Gut Reaction: May day, May day …Acuno launched a rocket to right field heading for it’s target….May day, May day…..wait, Marte Intercepts it…. disaster averted. Call our Top Gun, deGrom, to end this threat once and for all.
Marte, Lindor, Baty and Marte again launched rockets of their own but the killing salvo was delivered by a two run single Alonso, followed up by an important steal which resulted in an insurance run.
The steal was very important! How many 50 HR hitters can steal you a clutch base in the ninth inning?
Watched most of the game and was thrilled to see Baty hit a HR in his first AB. What if he is this year’s Conforto? What if he sticks at 3rd? What a great bat at the end of the order and he almost started a DP except for the speed of the runner heading to first. Despite the big lead in the 9th I would have put Diaz out there after only throwing 10 pitches in the 8th. This game was too important. Held my breath the entire inning. Would have rather seen Lugo with off speed stuff then May thinking he can overpower the Braves at 96MPH. Pete came up big as did Vogelbach. I think McCann was the only one without a hit but kudos for throwing out the attempted steel. Jake for the split tonight. Assume Baty gets another start tonight. 😉
Baty was very impressive. He let the first pitch go by without even a checked swing and stayed back to pull and drive the second hanger. And his approach against the LH pitcher later was terrific, hitting that scorcher to SS.
He also exhibited a steady glove and great arm at 3B—at least for one game.