Mets Fall Flat In 5-1 Loss to Braves

The Mets (87-70) dropped the opening game of a high-stakes series against the Braves (86-71) in Atlanta on Tuesday evening, falling 5-1.

New York’s offense struggled, managing just four hits in the key late-September matchup against their NL East rivals. With Atlanta now just one game behind in the standings, the Mets can lock up a Wild Card berth by winning the next two games at Truist Park. They have five games remaining—two more in this series and a season-ending three-game set against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Luis Severino (11-7) took the loss, struggling through four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking one. Atlanta broke the game open in the third, scoring three runs on an RBI double by Michael Harris II, an RBI single from Ozzie Albies, and another RBI single by Ramón Laureano.

The Braves extended their lead in the fourth with a solo home run from Harris off Severino. Ryne Stanek entered in the fifth and gave up a leadoff homer to Marcell Ozuna, pushing Atlanta’s lead to 5-0. Stanek also allowed a single to Jorge Soler but escaped the inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

The Mets finally broke through in the seventh inning when Mark Vientos hit an opposite-field solo homer—his 26th of the season—making it 5-1.

Huascar Brazobán pitched a scoreless sixth, Adam Ottavino worked a clean seventh, and Danny Young followed with a scoreless eighth. New York had a chance to rally in the eighth when Luisangel Acuña led off with a single, but they failed to capitalize. They went 1-2-3 in the ninth, with Francisco Lindor left on-deck to pinch hit at the end of the game. Expect him in the lineup tomorrow.

Ultimately, the offense fell flat Tuesday, mustering just four hits and a run against Spencer Schwellenbach. They’ve now scored just one run against him in 14 innings this year.

Notably, though, José Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a third-inning single,

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Mark Vientos earned Tuesday’s honor, scoring the Mets’ only run with a solo homer in the seventh.  

ON DECK

David Peterson (9-3, 3.08 ERA) will start on the mound tomorrow as the Mets look to bounce back. Atlanta’s starter will be Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA). SNY will air the game at 7:20 p.m.

The next two games are up in the air given the impending weather.

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