T.J. Rivera followed Flores’ double with a single to right, and Nick Markakis made a strong throw home that brought catcher A.J. Pierzynski into Flores’ path. Flores’ head crashed into Pierzynski’s knee while attempting to touch home plate, and the catcher tagged him to keep the game tied. The players wore NYPD hats to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 during a pregame ceremony.
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Johnson said there is “a little bit” of extra satisfaction in delivering big hits against the Braves, who also traded him to the Mets last season. While the Mets have played very well for Collins over the past few weeks, and he does deserve a ton of credit for providing a calm and steady head in a hard situation, this is not the first time that Collins has had questionable in game choices.
“That’s usually a game we win”, said Braves interim manager Brian Snitker, who pulled Teheran after six innings. “I’m going to throw it in the strike zone – quality pitches, quality location and let them get themselves out”.
The Mets blew it open with a four-run fifth inning that extended their lead to 10-1.
Since returning from the disabled list on August 19, Cespedes is batting.308 with eight homers and 19 RBIs and the Mets are 15-5. The Mets dropped back to a half game behind the Cardinals in the race for the second National League wild-card spot. Oh sure, the offense didn’t do what it needed to do to win, as the Mets managed only three baserunners after Atlanta starter John Gant was removed with two out and two on in the fifth.
“I think I missed on both pitches”, he said. “It takes a lot of discipline”.
On Aug. 6, the Mets lost when Jay Bruce was thrown out at the plate to end the game when a pinch runner likely would have scored.
After Goeddel struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers, Ty Kelly replaced center fielder Curtis Granderson to give the Mets five infielders and Josh Smoker retired Ender Inciarte on a popup.
Perez (2-3) left with a right triceps impingement after allowing the Cespides home run. The homer against Williams Perez on Sunday was Cespedes’ second grand slam of the season and fourth of his career. “Good thing I was able to escape”. “This is a big stretch for us”.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth, the Braves received an RBI single from Freddie Freeman and proceeded to load the bases with none out against rookie Seth Lugo.
NY led 1-0 in the first when Asdrubal Cabrera tripled and scored on Cespedes’ groundout. Atlanta 3B Adonis Garcia is hitting.297 with a.845 OPS since the All-Star break, with 15 doubles and eight homers in 47 games.3.
Brandon Snyder cut the lead to 10-2 in the seventh with his third career pinch-hit homer. NY has won their last five games overall. But just as the Braves prepare to move into a gleaming suburban ballpark, the Mets have figured out how to win here.
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Sunday’s ceremony included a 21-gun salute, a colour guard from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, flag bearers from the U.S. Army, an honour guard from the Smyrna, Georgia, police and a contingent of bagpipes and drums. He has hit safely in 28 of his last 29 games since August 1 and is hitting.362 over that span.
