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    Takeaways for Atlanta's series-closing loss against the New York Mets on Sunday Night Baseball

    Atlanta didn't come out of New York with the sweep, but winning three out of four is always lots of fun against the New York Mets

    The Atlanta Braves dropped the final game of the long weekend against the division-rival New York Mets, 7-6, on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. What do we need to know about this one? 

    Kodai Senga and his "Ghost Fork" outmatched Yonny Chirinos

    Aug 13, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) looks at the scoreboard in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.

    Atlanta's hiters hadn't faced Mets starter Kodai Senga and his famous "Ghost Fork" offspeed pitch - it's billed as the single most effective offspeed pitch at generating swings and misses in all of baseball, ad it mostly lived up to that reputation tonight. 

    After a rocky first inning, which saw Atlanta score three runs on a bases clearing double by Marcell Ozuna, Senga buckled down and retired the next thirteen consecutive batters to get through six innings with only four hits and seven strikeouts. 

    Atlanta only registered two base hits after the first inning against Senga, a Ronald Acuña Jr single in the 5th and a Matt Olson single in the 6th. 

    For Chirinos, it was a struggle - 4.2 innings, with six runs allowed on seven hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. He just wasn't able to get pitches past the Mets hitters, with sixteen balls being put into play and the walks coming at the most inopportune times. 

    Marcell Ozuna is quietly in a double-digit hitting streak

    Aug 13, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (20) hits a three run double in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

    The Big Bear, who was so bad halfway through April that fans were asking for him to be DFA'd, has been hitting in the #5 hole all weekend and producing. His bases clearing double in the 1st inning gave Atlanta an early 3-0 lead and put him at 57 RBIs on the season. 

    He's hit safely in eleven straight games, notching eight RBIs in that stretch, and he's now up to a .237 average on the season with a .770 OPs and 23 HRs. 

    Matt Olson did it again

    Aug 13, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

    The Braves first baseman hit another home run in this one, his 43rd of the season, to get Atlanta right back into it late in Citi Field. 

    The home run extends Olson's lead over the rest of baseball, and the 107 RBIs are also leading MLB right now. It's in the running for best individual season a Braves first baseman has ever had. 

    READ: Is Matt Olson having the best season ever by a Braves first baseman?

    What's next for Atlanta? 

    In a cruel bit of logistical timing, the Braves' next opponent is already in Atlanta, waiting on them to arrive: The New York Yankees. Aaron Judge and company landed in Atlanta late Sunday evening and begin a three game set on Monday night in Truist Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 PM ET, with Max Fried taking on Clarke Schmidt. The game broadcast will be available on Bally Sports South.

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    Matt Olson

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