Mets 6, Braves 4
How the game was won
The Braves were in for their first relative slugfest of the season – an anomaly for a team that hadn’t had one of its own starters give up more than two runs yet – and the outcome wasn’t pretty as David Hale allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings and walked five. And despite two home runs from Justin Upton, the Braves couldn’t sustain.
Braves highlights
Justin Upton had his first three-hit game of the season, including a moon shot to left field. ESPN Stats and Information estimated that the home run traveled 477 feet.
Braves lowlights
For the second straight game the Braves’ bullpen had its share of wobbly moments, and this time it cost the Braves the game. Daniel Murphy singled and scored the go-ahead run seventh and doubled to drive in some insurance in the eighth.
Mets highlights
Leadoff hitter Eric Young Jr. went 3-for-5, tripled, stole three bases, and scored four runs.
Mets lowlights
The Mets have struggled offensively, entering Thursday with an MLB-worst .190 team batting average. They are hitting .198 after the win.
Notable
The two-homer game was the seventh multi-homer game of Justin Upton’s career, two of which came last season.
Quoting them
“It’s funny out of the bullpen, when somebody comes in and doesn’t do the job that you expect them to do it kind of screws up the rest of the way. Last night we ran into it in the ninth inning there bringing (Craig) Kimbrel in (with runners on) and then today in the seventh. It’s still nine games into the season so we’ll figure that out and gets some guys in the right situation.” — Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez
“It was just one of those days I didn’t have command of the fastball at all, and I had to battle the whole time. It’s frustrating when such a simple pitch, and one that’s supposed to be my bread and butter, is just missing.” — David Hale
“It’s always cool to hit them a long way. …(But) they all count. I don’t care if they had to hit the green wall behind the wall.” — Justin Upton
“Tonight I was just comfortable. The only thing I can do is just try to take that same exact feel to tomorrow night and the next day and try to make something of it.” — Justin Upton
“As we saw tonight, (Young) creates runs. Tonight, he showed you he can win games for you.” — Mets manager Terry Collins
