Afrigather The Mets, who’ve struggled to carry opposing base runners all yr, allowed a really embarrassing steal Saturday: The Braves stole what was supposed to be Christian Scott Day and turned it into a virtually historic afternoon for Max Fried & Co.
Fried and two Atlanta relievers far outshined the Queens debut of the promising rookie and recorded 26 outs earlier than lastly permitting a success.
J.D. Martinez’s two-out residence run within the ninth supplied the Mets a success, a run and a sidestep of humiliation.
It didn’t enable the Mets a win, although, falling 4-1 to the Braves in entrance of 38,919 followers whose silence finally become boos at Citi Area.
Martinez’s blast to proper subject — his first homer as a Met — prevented the Mets being no-hit for the ninth time of their historical past.
They’ve tallied no less than one hit in each sport since Oct. 3, 2015, when then-Nationwide Max Scherzer did the honors, a streak that simply barely lives on.
Nonetheless, the Mets (18-20) have dropped the primary two video games of an intriguing, seven-game stretch in opposition to the category of the NL East that is perhaps revealing that Carlos Mendoza’s group is certainly playing for a wild card and never the division.
The Braves have performed as if they’re in a special stratosphere.
The 2024 Mets, who haven’t seen their offense get going all season, have scored three runs on six hits in 18 innings in opposition to the Braves the previous two days.
Fried pitched seven dazzling innings wherein he walked three, struck out 5 and was taken out as a result of supervisor Brian Snitker valued his 109 pitches greater than his zero hits allowed.
Within the eighth, Joe Jimenez let up a pair of walks that allowed the potential tying run to return to the plate, however Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte each chased sliders for strikeouts.
Within the ninth, nearer Raisel Iglesias struck out Francisco Lindor and bought Pete Alonso to floor out earlier than Martinez allowed the Mets a breath of life.
Jeff McNeil then walked and Harrison Bader grounded an infield single to the suitable aspect, however Brett Baty flew out to finish it.
The Mets didn’t have many alternatives in opposition to Fried, however they did have just a few.
Pete Alonso’s 405-foot drive into deep heart within the second inning would have been a house run in six main league parks, in keeping with Statcast — however not at Citi Area, the place it went down as a really lengthy out.
Fried walked Tomas Nido and Brandon Nimmo within the third, however Marte struck out to finish what certified as a menace.
After that pair of walks, Fried sat down 11 straight Mets earlier than strolling Alonso within the seventh. The following batter, Martinez, drilled a Fried four-seamer to deep heart, however the speedy Michael Harris II made a pleasant working seize earlier than smacking into the wall.
A day when an excessive amount of went improper for the Mets included an harm, too: Brandon Nimmo, who arguably has been the workforce’s most useful place participant, exited after four innings with right intercostal irritation, the Mets stated, after an ungainly non-swing.
Overshadowed was the house debut of Scott, who pitched nicely, if not dominantly.
In his second main league begin, the 24-year-old allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six-plus innings.
The righty cruised by means of two innings earlier than stumbling within the third.
Orlando Arcia smoked a two-run residence run that hooked simply truthful down the left-field line for an early lead that was expanded an inning later.
Within the fourth, a stroll to Austin Riley and a two-out single to Travis d’Arnaud introduced up Harris, who smacked an RBI single up the center for a 3-0 Braves lead.
However Scott, who has been as counseled for his make-up as his stuff, battled again and saved the powerhouse Braves scoreless the remainder of the way in which.
