The Mets, having won 15 of 17, came to Atlanta hoping to further fortify their standing as a wild-card contender, if not make the Braves sweat out the National League East finish.
Instead, the Braves look like a team with little to worry about from their rivals in Queens. Though Wednesday’s victory didn’t come with total ease.
The Braves' 6-4 win over the Mets at SunTrust Park, which clinched the series for the home team, was made possible by softly hit bloopers and a mind-numbing error by a Mets reliever in the five-run seventh inning.
“That big seventh inning was huge,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “We’re out here to win games. We’re not out here to do anything other than that, however we have to do it. We shot ourselves in the foot a couple times but we were able to play around it.”
The explosive seventh was almost neutralized in the ninth, when the team came dangerously close to seeing a 6-2 lead evaporate for the second time in four games. Snitker turned to closer Mark Melancon in a non-save situation hoping it’d result in a calmer ninth.
Instead, it was another stressful finish. Melancon allowed four consecutive one-out hits, bringing back haunting memories of the disastrous finish Saturday in Miami. It pulled the Mets within two runs.
Pete Alonso struck a ball to second baseman Ozzie Albies, who tossed it to Johan Camargo. The shortstop appeared to tag second for the force out but fumbled the ball, preventing a game-ending double play. Upon replay review, Camargo missed the base too, leaving all Mets safe.
What should've been a game-ender became an inexcusable gaff. Camargo, a natural shortstop, made two mistakes on what should've been a routine play. It extended a line of tumultuous play for the infielder, who hadn't found comfort in his utility role and has struggled mightily at the plate and in the field while filling in for the injured Dansby Swanson.
“I don’t know,” Snitker said when asked if Camargo was pressing. “I don’t feel like I ever put any pressure on guys. We’re just going to keep running guys out there and try to keep everyone as fresh as you can. It’s a big hole when you lose your shortstop (Swanson) and you’re trying to fill. We’ll do it with the couple guys we have and try to keep them as fresh as we can.”
Credit: John Amis
Credit: John Amis
Melancon struck out Wilson Ramos before Jerry Blevins entered to face Michael Conforto, whose strikeout ended the game. But the Camargo miscue loomed large, almost leading to what would’ve been a loss equally devastating, if not more so, to last Saturday.
The Braves could send Camargo down to Triple-A to sort himself out. In the meantime, they would rely exclusively on Charlie Culberson at shortstop while Swanson is shelved. The team lacks other viable infield options, however, so it may just hold out hope Camargo can figure it out in the majors.
As for that five-run inning: Down 2-1 in the seventh, the Braves torched Seth Lugo, July’s NL reliever of the month who’d allowed just three hits while striking out 16 and walking one in those 12 outings.
Mets starter Steven Matz was lifted at 79 pitches, opening the door for the Braves to attack the Mets bullpen. Matz had nearly matched Braves starter Dallas Keuchel, who threw six shutout innings.
Josh Donaldson opened the inning drawing a walk. Adam Duvall and Camargo singled to load the bases. Ender Inciarte, who knocked in the Braves’ first run, plated the second. The Braves kept the bases loaded with none out.
The Mets appeared to get what they needed from Braves catcher Tyler Flowers. He hit a weak grounder between first and second, but Lugo was too slow covering first, preventing the Mets from making any play as the go-ahead run scored.
Pinch-hitter Matt Joyce singled a ball to right, and though Flowers was thrown out at second as a fielder's choice, the Braves scored their fourth run. Ronald Acuna singled to make it 5-2, chasing Lugo for ex-Brave Luis Avilan.
Ozzie Albies knocked in the sixth run before Freddie Freeman grounded into a double play to conclude the inning. The damage was done: A five-run seventh awarded the Braves a series win over the hottest team in baseball – and provided them a chance to sweep Thursday, essentially eliminated any small hope the Mets would’ve had of a miraculous division run.
The inning was as impressive a sequence as the Braves have put together this year. It required no extra-base hits and just one walk. It was aided by luck – a couple well-placed balls and Lugo’s mistake – but showcased the vast potential the offense has even without power.
“I feel like it’s hard to do that (win without power) these days,” Flowers said. “To pull off five base hits in a row, especially singles. (Donaldson) had a great at-bat early to start it there with a walk. Some things went our way there, we pushed some runs across, some much-needed runs too.”
Simply put, few teams are better than the Braves at stringing together offense. Much of the time it’s done with doubles and homers, but Wednesday served as a reminder the team doesn’t have to live or die by the long ball.
The Braves and Mets wrap up the series Thursday with Julio Teheran (7-7, 3.35) facing Marcus Stroman (6-11, 3.20). The latter, surprisingly acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline, will be making his first start against the Braves with his new club.
