Kevin Gausman became the first notable July acquisition to start for the Braves in six years Saturday. The former Oriole pitched well, but the sixth inning became his unfortunate defining moment.
The Braves’ five-game winning streak was snapped with a 3-0 loss in New York. They’d beaten the Mets the previous two nights, and will play for a series win Sunday.
Gausman hovered in the 93-94 mph range, peaking at 97. He had steady command early but it grew progressively worse.
His first jam came in the second inning, and his defense could’ve gotten him out of it, or at least lessened the damage.
Jeff McNeil doubled on a 97-mph heater after Gausman hit Todd Frazier. After striking out Austin Jackson, Gausman got Amed Rosario to ground out.
The problem: Johan Camargo threw to first rather than catch Frazier in a rundown between third and home, allowing the Mets to score.
“That’s a tough one,” manager Brian Snitker said. “We’ve stolen that run too.”
Gausman settled in from there. He gave up two hits in the fourth and fifth before becoming unhinged in the sixth. His final line - five innings, six hits, three runs, two walks and two strikeouts – was mostly a product of his last frame.
Michael Conforto, Frazier and McNeill singled to start the inning. Manager Brian Snitker elected to pull Gausman with the bases loaded and none down with Austin Jackson at the plate. Jackson had struck out and grounded into a double play earlier in the game.
“I liked it,” Snitker said of Gausman. “I really liked it, quite honestly. I think there’s a lot there. I think he’s going to be a really good piece for us going forward. I like a lot about what I saw.”
Jackson hit a ball that ricocheted off Braves reliever Shane Carle’s foot and resulted in New York’s second run. Carle had already begun visibly preparing to throw the ball home, aiming for a double play.
Carle struck out Rosario but Kevin Plawecki’s sacrifice fly plated the third run. Like Camargo’s mishap, the Braves were left wondering how one play could’ve spared them.
Zack Wheeler, a Georgia native, easily dissected the Braves lineup. He allowed just three hits while walking one and striking out nine in seven innings. The Braves didn’t have an inning with two baserunners.
“He was really good,” Snitker said. “Fastball was live, splitter was really good, curveball was in. He had the whole package there.”
Their best chance against Wheeler was when Freddie Freeman led off the seventh with a double. Nick Markakis flew out, Camargo struck out and Ender Inciarte was robbed by Brandon Nimmo’s diving catch in right field.
Dansby Swanson and Adam Duvall posted one-out singles in the eighth. Duvall was pinch-hitting for Jonny Venters, and the hit was his first as a Brave.
Ronald Acuna struck out before Robert Gsellman entered and got an Ozzie Albies grounder to end the threat.
Gausman became the 11th starter for the Braves this season, one fewer than the Mets’ National League high. In his first home start against the Braves since August 2014, Wheeler lowered his career ERA against the Braves to 3.24 in five starts.
The loss dips the Braves another game behind the Phillies in the NL East race. Philadelphia comfortably beat Miami 8-3.
