The Braves defeated the Mets tonight by the score of 9-3 at Turner Field.
The Braves jumped on Pat Misch early by scoring 2 runs in the first inning. Omar Infante who has killed the Mets all year got the rally started by leading off the Braves 1st inning with a lined single to RF. The number 2 man in the Braves lineup Jason Heyward quickly followed with a single up the middle of his own. The runner on first Infante tried going 1st to 3rd and was successful just ahead of Angel Pagan's throw. On the throw, Heyward made it safely to 2nd base setting the Braves up with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Third hitter Martin Prado grounded out to 2nd base driving in the first run and advancing Heyward to 3rd. Derek Lee would then single to CF bringing in the 2nd Atlanta run making the score 2-0.
The Mets would fight back in the Top of the 2nd. After a single by Jeff Francouer and a BB to Josh Thole, Luis Hernandez hit a ball up the middle that Alex Gonzalez usually gets, the ball however took a tough hop and got by Gonzalez scoring Francouer and cutting the Braves lead to 2-1. After a SAC bunt by P Pat Misch, Angel Pagan would hit an RBI groundout to SS, scoring Thole and tying the score at 2-2.
The game would not be tied long though as the Braves re-gained the lead in the Bot of the 2nd. This time they did it with one swing of the bat. After retiring the first 2 hitters in order, P Jair Jurrjens singled to CF, which was followed by another single to CF by Omar Infante. Then Jason Heyward crushed a 3-run HR deep over the RF wall, putting the Braves back ahead by the score of 5-2.
The Mets would push accross another run in the Top of the 6th. After a Jeff Francouer single to RF, Josh Thole crushed a ball of the RF wall for a run scoring triple cutting the Braves lead 5-3. The Mets would threaten again in the Top of the 6th by putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but were turned aside.
The Braves would add to their lead in the Bot of the 6th. Manny Acosta would come on to pitch for the Mets. After retiring the first two hitters, he would give up a single to Rick Ankiel and follow that up with a BB to Omar Infante. Jason Heyward would then rip a single to RF scoring Ankiel making the score 6-3. The next hitter Martin Prado hit a ball to right centerfield that landed in front of Carlos Beltran. The first runner Infante would score easily, but Beltran had a hard time stopping on his balky knee when getting to the ball. Jason Heyward took note of this and was able to score all the way from 1st base making the scrore 8-3.
The Braves would tack on once again in the Bot of the 7th. This time off of Oliver Perez. This was Perez's first mound appearance since August 1st, and the rust showed immediately as he gave up a bomb of a HR to Brian McCann to RF on his second pitch of the evening, making the score 9-3.
This was a tough game to watch. The Mets put two runners on in the Top of the first and I started to think that maybe we would have a chance tonight, but Jair Jurrjens immdediately ended all hopes by retiring the side without giving up a run. Even when the Mets fought back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 2, you got the sense it didn't matter as they looked like a defeated ballclub.
The one bright spot that I thought stood out in tonight's game was Josh Thole as he continues to develop himself as a catcher and continues to show that he can hit on the big league level.
Tonight gave even more indication that Carlos Beltran can not play centerfield in his current condition. He looked terribe going after the ball Martin Prado hit that fell in front of him. Not only did he have a tough time getting to the ball, once he got there he couldn't stop his momentum from pulling him to RF which allowed Heyward to scor all the way from first. Kevin Burkhardt said on tonight's broadcast that Beltran hasn't been approached about a move to RF. Well it's time for the Mets to talk with Beltran about a potential move.
David Wright and Ike Davis, the 4 and 5 hitters respectively, combined to go 1-8 with 6 K's. David Wright is now 0-25 this season at Turner Field.
The Mets left 9 runners on base in the first 6 innings and went 1-14 with RISP on the night.
Watching Oliver Perez pitch tonight was embarassing. He looks completely lost. The HR he game up to Brian McCann was absolutely crushed to RF. When he came off the mound at the end of the inning the only person that came to console him was none other than Luis Castillo. Go figure that the two guys that complain the most when they don't deserve to be on this ballclub are there for eachother.
The Mets are now 9-51 at Turner Field when the Braves score first. That's a .150 winning percentage!
The Mets continue their series with the Braves tommorow night with Jon Niese matching up against Braves rookie LHP Mike Minor. Game time is 7:10PM.
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