Atlanta Braves Offense Quiet, Bullpen Shaky in 6-0 Opening Day Loss to Mets
In what started as a masterful pitcher’s duel between aces for the Braves and Mets, the late innings would decide the opening day outcome for both teams.
The Atlanta Braves (0-1) got the opening day start they were hoping for from staff ace Julio Teheran on Monday, but eventually suffered a 6-0 loss to the Mets.
In a game that would remain scoreless through the middle of the seventh,New York’s offense blew the game wide open in the bottom half of that inning as Atlanta’s offense was shut out.
Freddie Freeman hit a standup triple with one out in the top of the fourth, but Matt Kemp chased a couple of bad balls to strikeout, then Nick Markakis followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
Freeman had a nice day at the plate in the loss, going 3-for-4. The only other Braves with hits were Dansby Swanson, Kemp, Brandon Phillips and Tyler Flowers with one each.
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Teheran worked out of a little trouble in the fourth, then let the pitcher aboard in the fifth, but the Mets couldn’t advance Noah Syndergaard. That was about the only excitement for New York with the Braves ace on the mound.
Swanson and Freeman got the offense going in the sixth with a pair of singles. Markakis came to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners, then worked into a 3-2 count but popped out to end the inning.
Syndergaard went six innings for New York, giving up no runs on five hit, and struck out seven. The Mets ace didn’t issue a single walk.
For Atlanta, Teheran kept the Mets scoreless on four hits through six innings. He walked three and struck out six batters.
Ian Krol came into the game for Atlanta to start the seventh. Wilmer Flores got a single as the Braves couldn’t turn a double play, then stole second base with one out. Jose Reyes came to the plate after going 0-3 on the day and took Krol to a 3-2 count before drawing a walk.
Asdrubal Cabrera came to the plate with runners on first and second, still with one out, then singled up the middle, but Ender Inciarte appeared to throw out Flores at the plate, but the Mets challenged the call and won, posting the first run of the game.
On the overturned play at the plate, catcher Tyler Flowers played the ball from behind the plate in basically the same position he would sit to receive a pitch. This appeared to turn what was a nearly perfect throw from Inciarte into a stretch to attempt to tag the runner.
Chaz Roe entered the game to replace Krol, still with runners on first and second and only one out. Cespedes drew a walk to load the bases, and Brian Snitker went to the bullpen again.
Eric O’Flaherty came on with the bases full, and drew a fly ball to center, but it was deep enough to put the Mets up 2-0 on a sacrifice. A wild pitch then put the Mets at the corners with Walker at the plate, who drew a walk to load the bases again.
Jay Bruce came to the plate and drew a 3-1 count before walking home a run to put the Mets up 3-0. Duda came on and drove in three more runs on a deep double over the head of Inciarte.
Jose Ramirez replaced O’Flaherty as the Mets batted around, and was able to end the inning where it began, retiring Flores on a dribbler to Dansby Swanson.
After Atlanta failed to score again, Ramirez came back on for the eighth and retired the Mets in order.
Atlanta’s offense got runners on second and third in the top of the ninth with hits from Freeman and Kemp, but Freeman failed to break for home on a bunt, hanging up Kemp between bases, and the game ended in a 6-0 shutout.
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After an off day, the Mets and Braves will be back at it on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. from New York.