In his fifth start against the Braves, Jacob deGrom allowed as many runs as he had in the previous four combined – two.
He was even responsible for the Mets’ only run. But his offense couldn’t get him anything else.
Anibal Sanchez, meanwhile, got just enough help from his bats. He disposed of the Mets’ veteran-laden lineup, and the Braves beat the Mets with deGrom on the mound for the fifth time in five chances, 2-1, on Friday night.
The Braves have taken the first two of a four-game set at Citi Field, and are 5-0 there on the year. They’re 11-3 against the Mets overall.
“We have to take advantage of the schedule we have right now,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said before the game. “Even though we’re facing deGrom, (Zack) Wheeler and them, these are the series, the games you have to win if you’re going to make the playoffs.”
After losing four straight, the Braves have won five in a row. Sean Newcomb’s near-no-hitter awarded them the finale against the Dodgers. They beat Miami twice before the third game was rained out. They’ve taken care of business so far in New York, with a vital four-game series in Washington looming.
Similar to Thursday night, the youngers showed out on America’s biggest stage. Johan Camargo’s solo homer off deGrom opened the scoring in the second. His two-RBI double won the game Thursday.
Leadoff man Ronald Acuna had another multi-hit effort. He doubled with two down in the fifth, then Ozzie Albies’ own two-bagger provided the go-ahead run.
“That’s been the catalyst for (the Braves),” Mets reliever Jerry Blevins said. “You’ve got Freddie Freeman and (Nick) Markakis right in the middle, two of the best left-handed hitters in the game. … But to see Acuna and Albies step up, it adds depth to an already deep lineup. They’re exciting and fun to watch – and a pain in the butt as an opposing pitcher.”
The Mets’ inability to win games with deGrom on the mound has been baffling. He leads the majors with a 1.85 ERA, and may still capture the Cy Young award, but his magnificence hasn’t ascended the Mets out of MLB’s basement.
He pitched eight innings and allowed two runs. In total, deGrom’s allowed four runs in 33 innings against the Braves, and his team doesn’t have a victory to show for it.
In 16 career starts against the Braves, deGrom has amassed a 1.83 ERA, third best among active starters. But the Braves have won 10 of those meetings.
“It’s such a tough battle when you face him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I just sit back and – do I like playing him? No. Do I like watching him pitch? Absolutely. I love watching him pitch. He’s just so good. It’s fun to watch him.”
Sanchez matched deGrom as his ace-level performance persists into August. The veteran righty had one rough inning, when deGrom’s RBI-single tied the game in the third.
He finished six frames and struck out a season-best nine on 100 pitches. The Braves pinch-hit Ryan Flaherty for him in the seventh.
The Braves saw Brandon McCarthy and Mike Soroka go down and miss extended time, if not the remainder of the year. But Sanchez has been the buffer. He’s exceeded even the most optimistic projections, and more impressive, he’s maintained the elite performances into the stretch run.
Sanchez has a 2.89 ERA across 15 starts, a remarkable result for a player the team took a flier on in March.
As for the offense, it collected six hits against deGrom. These Braves boast lineup depth that’s been absent in Atlanta for quite sometime: They’ve got speed, power, can hit for average, can walk.
If the Braves play like they have for the past five games and not the four prior, they’ll be in the race until the end. Of course, more games against the Marlins and Mets won’t hurt.
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