The day started with some terrible news. Noah Syndergaard had landed on the 10 day disabled list with a strained ligament in his index finger.
Well, after the Mets jumped out to a 4-0 lead (after a rain delay, of course) Steven Matz left the game in the bottom of the 4th inning with an injury to his middle finger.
Let’s get to the recap.
Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a hit by pitch. He sprinted to first (of course.) Then he stole second. Then he stole third. Then he came home on Jose Bautista’s double. 1-0 Mets.
Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two run homerun in the 3rd. 3-0.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo shot in the 4th. 4-0. Steven Matz doubled in the inning but was stranded on second.
After cruising through the first 3 innings, Matz did not throw a pitch in the 4th. He was relieved by Paul Sewald. It was a rough inning for Sewald to say the least but he limited the damage somewhat. The new Mets killer Charlie Culberson singled home Tyler Flowers to put Atlanta on the scoreboard. 4-1. After a passed ball scored Culberson, Sewald got the dangerous Ozzie Albies to fly out with the tying runs in scoring position. Inning over. 4-2.
Asdrubal Cabrera got the Mets a run right back in the top of the 5th, after his second homerun of the game flew over the right field wall. Where would we be without Cabrera? I don’t even want to think about it. 5-2 Amazin’s.
In the top of the 6th after Amed Rosario singled with two outs, Brandon Nimmo continued his fine night with an RBI double. 6-2 Mets.
After a tough 4th inning, Sewald had a perfect 5th. Jerry Blevins, who was coming off an awful weekend in Milwaukee, came in to pitch the 6th against the bottom of the Atlanta lineup.
He walked Charlie Culberson, but left him stranded. Is anyone else starting to hate this Culberson character? Blevins didn’t have the same luck in the 7th. After retiring Inciarte and Albies, Freeman singled and then came home on a Markakis double. Jacob Rhame relieved Blevins and got Flowers to fly out on just one pitch. 6-3 Mets.
Rhame had a little more difficulty in the 8th inning. Johan Camargo and Charlie Culberson (smh) led off with back-to-back singles. Dansby Swanson followed with a bloop hit that a diving Conforto couldn’t corral and the bases were loaded.
Preston Tucker hit a ball to short, but the Mets could not turn the double play. 6-4 Mets. Runners at the corners with one out. Ender Inciarte was up next and he hit a triple. Just like that the game was tied. The bullpen blew another lead. 6-6.
Jacob Rhame bounced back to strike Ozzie Albies out swinging. Nick Markakis was up next and he popped up to end the inning. Damage limited, but damage definitely done.
The top of the 9th got off to a promising start. Amed Rosario singled, and then Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Asdrubal Cabrera was next and he struck out. Pinch hitter Luis Guillorme hit into a fielders choice which put runners on the corners for Michael Conforto. Guillorme took second base on defensive indifference, but Conforto struck out swinging and the threat was neutralized.
In the bottom of the 9th, newly recalled Gerson Bautista entered the game to pitch for the Mets. After Tyler Flowers flew out to right, Johan Camargo hit a line drive to right field. The problem was the line drive went over the right field wall. Game over. 7-6 Braves.
Disgusting.
New York has lost five of six and seven of their last nine. They fell to 2-7 against Atlanta this season.
The Mets have blown multi-run leads seven times in their last 5 games.
New York’s bullpen is 1-5 with a 8.50 ERA in its last six games.
Jason Vargas pitches tomorrow. Who gives a shit.
