NY lost consecutive games for the first time since Sep. 1-2.
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But between Freeman (4 hits, 3 RBI), Swanson (3 hits, 3 RBI) and Blair (6 innings, 2 runs), the Mets were stymied in their attempts to gain pace in the Wild Card race… which makes their fans all the more anxious for tonight’s game against Julio Teheran.
“I always think I’m the best choice”, he said.
“He’s good. He’s an All-Star”. He has three hits in his last 37 at-bats (.081).
The loss trimmed the Mets’ lead over the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals for the top Wild Card spot to half a game. NY nicked the Braves’ bullpen for three runs in the eighth but couldn’t complete the comeback.
The Braves have the worst record in the NL, yet have a four-game winning streak.
This isn’t Cincinnati. Jay Bruce got a very cold reminder Tuesday night that the Mets traded for him expecting home runs and RBIs as the boos grew louder at Citi Field.
Bruce went 0 for 3 before being removed for a pinch hitter and is now just 3 for his last 38 as a member of the Mets.
The 25-year-old righty improved to 7-3 lifetime against the Mets. In June, Teheran threw a one-hit shutout at Citi Field, and the two-time All-Star is 2-0 in four starts against NY this year. “Now, it’s one of my favorites”, Teheran said. “I didn’t and by the time I pulled up it was too late”, Granderson said.
Jim Johnson allowed a two-out single to Cabrera in the ninth but struck out Yoenis Cespedes for his 16th save.
Melky Cabrera hit a three-run home run for the White Sox, who have lost four straight.
Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double in the eighth, when T.J. Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly and Eric Campbell delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in his first at-bat since May 30.
Freddie Freeman went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk as he reached base safely for the 40th straight game and extended his hitting streak to 24 games.
Robert Gsellman (2-2) lost in his fifth major league start.
NY took a 1-0 lead into the sixth, but the Braves loaded the bases with one out and Matt Kemp’s fly ball to right-center fell between Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce, tying the game. Josh Smoker relieved and walked Nick Markakis to force home the go-ahead run.
Freeman led off the third with a homer and added a two-run, two-out double in the fourth to extend the Braves’ lead to 5-0.
The Braves’ current winning streak began with two victories at home over NL East-leading Washington.
The Braves (60-91) look increasingly likely to end up with fewer than 100 losses, something that seemed inconceivable when manager Fredi Gonzalez was sacked following a 9-28 start that had the club on pace to lose 120 games.
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, out for more than a week after being hit on the left calf by a line drive, could throw a bullpen session in the next couple of days. Interim manager Brian Snitker hopes Foltynewicz, who hasn’t pitched since he was hit by a comebacker on September 12, can return before the end of the season.
Wilmer Flores received a second cortisone injection in his bothersome right wrist to help alleviate discomfort caused by a bone bruise.
“It’s one of the worst things you can do as a manager, pinch hit for a star, especially one of the elite power hitters in the game”, Collins said.
One inning later, Adonis Garcia blew the game open with a three-run moonshot off Jerry Blevins, giving the Braves a 5-1 lead.
Bruce’s place in – or out – of the lineup is sure to be a central topic Wednesday night, when the Mets try to avoid being swept by the Braves in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field.
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Blair, a 24-year-old right-hander selected 36th overall in the 2013 amateur draft, went on the disabled list after an August 28 loss because of a strained left knee, then worked on his mechanics during two injury rehabilitation starts in the minors.
