Takeaways: Braves rally past the Mets 6-4 on a long night at Truist Park
The game started late, but it was worth the wait. Despite falling into a 4-1 hole in the third inning, the Braves came from behind to do what they've done so well over the years - beat the Mets. Here are some takeaways.
Throw It Again
Expect to hear this a few more times over the rest of the season (and perhaps beyond). After blasting a 448-foot bomb off Bryce Elder in the third inning, Mets 1B Pete Alonso had a little something to say about it.
That was the second of two two-out, two-run taters in the inning for the visiting Metropolitans. They would not score again, and this little incident seemed to stir up both the Braves and Twitter.
As you've perhaps guessed, things did not go well for the visitors after this. Bryce Elder pitched six innings and struck out eight, which is a season high for him. And for what it's worth, he also managed to hang around long to get the win, as the offense would wake up in the bottom of his final inning.
Big Inning
Ozzie Albies homered in the second, and then the Atlanta offense struggled to cash in some baserunners against veteran Mets starter Carlos Carrasco. Elder kept the team in the game, though, and the bottom of the sixth got off to a very promising start. Matt Olson led off with a walk, and then Austin Riley doubled to left on a ball that Jeff McNeil got a terrible read on (more on him later). That set the stage for Sean Murphy.
That double chased Carrasco, and reliever Drew Smith appeared to restore order by retiring Eddie Rosario and Ozzie Albies. Marcell Ozuna wouldn't let him get away that easily, though.
And after Ozuna moved to third on a wild pitch, Orlando Arcia went ahead and put the Braves in front.
It was a very satisfying inning in multiple ways, and it gave the Braves' bullpen a narrow lead to protect. Jesse Chavez overcame a Riley error to face the minimum in the seventh, and AJ Minter had another encouraging outing in the eighth, retiring McNeil with the tying run at second and two out.
A Little Insurance Wouldn't Hurt
McNeil must've really been frustrated by not driving that run in because he promptly did this in the bottom of the inning.
More on that shade thrown at the Mets in the tweet later, but whatever that was put Eddie Rosario at third. An intentional walk to Albies meant runners at the corners with one out and Marcell Ozuna at the plate. He hit a grounder that Francisco Lindor made an excellent play on to turn what was originally ruled an inning-ending double play. But Albies had been running on the pitch, and he immediately protested the call at second. The Braves would challenge and ultimately win, with Ozzie ruled safe at second and Eddie crossing the plate to extend the lead to 6-4.
Raisel Iglesias came on in the ninth and very satisfyingly struck out Alonso to lead off the inning, with Daniel Vogelbach and Starling Marte grounding out to end the game. And the pace of the shade tweeting only increased from there.
The real takeaway is this - keep your mouth shut until you win something.
On Deck
The series continues tomorrow night at Truist Park. In a matchup of veterans, the Mets will send Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.21 ERA, 4.12 FIP) to the hill, and the Braves will counter with Charlie Morton (5-6, 3.62 ERA, 3.56 FIP).
First pitch at 7:20 PM ET ("weather"-permitting). The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com. And, as always, we'll have all your coverage right here on Braves Today.
More stories from the Mets series
WATCH: Bizarre defense and an umpire review lead to critical insurance run for the Braves
WATCH: Braves plate four and reclaim the lead against the Mets
WATCH: Ozzie Albies puts the Braves in front with a solo mash
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's series opener with the New York Mets
Atlanta Braves Looking to Keep the Mets Down and Out
Atlanta calls up RHP Roddery Muñoz, sends Lucas Luetge to Gwinnett
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