Right-hander Matt Wisler’s return to starting for the Braves was going well until Mets hitters faced him for the third time. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if he has pitched better because Mets left-hander Steven Matz was so good and the Braves’ bullpen was so bad.
The Mets beat the Braves 8-1 on Saturday night to sweep the day-night doubleheader at SunTrust Park. The Mets won 6-1 in the afternoon game and will look to win the four-game series Sunday.
The Braves had a total of 11 hits in the two games and were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively in either game,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “So we just put that behind us and come back out and split the series tomorrow.”
Wisler made 45 starts for the Braves over the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He began this season at Triple-A Gwinnett, was inconsistent in seven relief appearances for the Braves this season and then got the call-up because the Braves needed an extra starter for the doubleheader.
Wisler held the Mets scoreless with two hits through 4 2/3 innings. His troubles began when he walked Michael Confortowith two outs in the fifth inning.
Jose Reyes followed with a single, and then Jay Bruce sent Wisler’s curveball over the wall in right field for his 16th home run of the season. That was one of four extra-base hits allowed by Wisler, who struck out seven batters over six innings, but walked three.
“Honestly that’s probably the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Wisler said. “The slider and the curveball were both working. I think it’s frustrating though that two pitches today cost us the game. I felt in control most of the game and then that two-out walk and then the bloop (single) and the three-run homer by Bruce all with two outs. That’s kind of the back breaker and put us in the hole.”
The Mets added another run in the sixth inning when Wilmer Flores tripled to lead off and then scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s sacrifice fly. That was more than enough offense for Matz, who made his season debut following elbow surgery in October.
Matz limited the Braves to one run and five hits over seven innings. The Braves advanced just three runners past first base against Matz, including Dansby Swanson’s two-out double in the seventh that was followed by Johan Camargo’s RBI single.
Matz, 26, last pitched in the majors Aug. 14. He entered the game with a 3.38 ERA against the Braves, and his six starts and four wins against them are his most against any opponent.
Braves right fielder Nick Markakis said the rare 6 p.m. start created some blind spots in the ballpark.
“On top of his stuff, the shadows didn’t help,” he said. “But both teams had to hit in it. When you have a guy like that on the mound that makes it tougher.”
The Mets beat up the Braves’ bullpen in both games of the doubleheader.
In Game 2 Braves lefty Eric O’Flaherty surrendered a two-out, two-run homer to T.J. Rivera in the eighth inning and a two-out, two-run double to Juan Lagares in the ninth. The Mets scored five runs against reliever Luke Jackson in Game 1, including Yoenis Cespedes’ ninth-inning grand slam.
Home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Braves left fielder Matt Kemp from Game 2. Kemp disagreed with Cuzzi’s strike call during an at-bat in the eighth inning and then appeared to continue to argue with Cuzzi after grounding out to end the inning.
