Coming into Wednesday night’s game, New York Mets starter Zack Wheeler was 6-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his last 10 starts. In Wheeler’s young career, he is 3-1 with a 3.50 ERA in six career starts against the Atlanta Braves. The bottom line is Wheeler has been on a role and he’s facing a team he has success against.
However, Jason Heyward put it on Wheeler early as he walloped a 1-1 fastball opposite field for a leadoff solo homerun. Atlanta Braves starter Julio Teheran pitched another strong start as the Braves went on to defeat the Mets 3-2.
With the Braves recent offensive struggles it would have been nice if the lineup took off after Heyward’s leadoff dinger but a win is a win and the Braves were able to snap their three-game losing streak.
Teheran had himself another solid outing but he wasn’t as sharp as we’re used to seeing from the Braves ace. Teheran went 6.1 innings allowing one run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Now Teheran didn’t get knocked around but he seemed to be pushing through some kind of leg injury, maybe just a cramp, which affected his control leading to deep counts. Teheran showed he can win games without his best stuff which shows his maturity for a young, up-and-coming pitcher.
After Mets second baseman Wilmer Flores tied the game at one in the second inning with a solo homerun, the Braves were able to mount a 2-run third inning giving them the lead back. The rally started with a Phil Gosselin bunt single followed by a Freddie Freeman double putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1-out and Justin Upton coming to the plate.
Upton was able to drive in his 25th run of the month with an RBI groundout. Coming into his at-bat Upton was 0-15 against Wheeler with six strikeouts and 0 RBIs. So even though Upton didn’t record a hit he drove in the run which is what you have to do with runners at 3rd less than two outs. Atlanta was gifted a run by the Mets defense when Evan Gattis hit a soft grounder to the shortstop that was bobbled leading to another run. That run ended up being the difference as the Braves came away with a 3-2 win.
The biggest play of the game came in the 8th inning where the Mets tried to mount a comeback against the Braves bullpen. After Braves reliever Jordan Walden allowed one run off a Juan Ligares single, he then induced a double-play off the bat of Lucas Duda. With a runner at third and two outs Travis d’Arnaud laced a sharp ground ball on the first pitch that looked like it would get through the hole and tie the game. Not so fast, Andrelton Simmons ranged to his right, backhanded, and leaped while throwing a missile to first base where Freeman picked it retiring d’Arnaud to end the inning.
The Mets tried to come back again in the 9th inning off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel. Again the Mets fell short after the first two hitters reached base and advanced to scoring position after a sac-bunt. Kimbrel induced a groundball to third baseman Gosselin where he cut off the runner at home plate. Then Kirk Nieuwenhuis flied out shallow left field ending the game with a runner at third.
Kimbrel didn’t have good control but when you combine reputation and electric stuff you can get away with it and still get the job done. It was Kimbrel’s 39th save of the season, tied for 1st in the National League with Francisco Rodriguez and Trevor Rosenthal.