Game 1 NY METS 10 ATLANTA BRAVES 9
An absolutely crazy, see saw game, with the Mets coming from behind to win it on a three run HR by Kevin McReynolds (4) in the bottom of the 8th.
Atlanta jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead against Gary Gentry, who did not have it today. But the Mets came right back against Braves starter Maholm, scoring 4 in the bottom of the first with Howar Johnson's 2 RBI double the big hit. Atlanta came right back to tie it in the second on a 2 RBI double by Chipper Jones. The BRaves then took a 7-4 lead with three in the third on an RBI double by Ryan Klesko and a 2 run HR (2) by Michael Tucker.
The Mets got one run back in the bottom of the third on a solo HR by Howard Johnson (3). The MEts then tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by Keith Hernandez and a sac fly by Darryl Strawberry.
Tied at 7-7 after four things finally settled down as Nolan Ryan, in relief for the Mets quieted the Atlanta bats (3 IP, 1 H) and four Braves relievers did the same to the Mets. In the 8th, with Ron Taylor on in relief for the Mets, the Braves broke the tie on a Tucker RBI single and a sac fly by Keith Lockhart to make it 9-7 Atlanta going to the bottom of the 8th.
Manager Bruce Thomas, subbing for Erik Nelson, brought in lefty Luis Avilan to start the bottom of the 8th. Dykstra led off with a single, and after the next two batters made out, Darryl Strawberry walked putting runners on 1st and 2d with 2 out. With righty swinging McReynolds at the plate out came Avilan and in came righty closer Craig Kimbrel. The move backfired when McReynolds sent the ball over the left field fence in Shea Stadium.
Taylor pitched a hitless 9th to end it and picked up the win (1-0). Kimbrel took the loss and is now 0-2.
Dykstra was 4-5 with 3 runs scored. HoJo was 2-5 with a double and a HR and 3 RBIs. Michael Tucker was 2-4 for Atlanta with a HR, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.
Game 2 NY METS 6 ATLANTA BRAVES 5
An even more stirring comeback win for the Mets as they score three in the bottom of the 9th to win it, as Kimbrel melts down and suffers the loss (0-3) for the second consecutive day.
Ray Sadecki started for the Mets and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the first inning off Braves starter Kris Medlen, as the Mets took a 1-0 lead. The lead did not last, however, as Atlanta scored three in the 4th. Gerald Williams double scoring Chipper Jones to tie the game. Then Andruw Jones hit a 2 run HR (6) to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. Javy Lopez hit a solo HR, off Sadecki, in the 6th to make it 4-1.
The Mets got one back in the 6th when Strawberry doubled in Magadan to make it 4-2. But tlanta restored their three run lead with a run in the 8th on a pinch hit RBI single by Klesko. In the bottom of the 8th, with lefty reliever Alex Wood on for Atlanta, the Mets got one back when Hernandez hit a solo HR (5). 5-3 Atlanta going to the bottom of the 9th.
Howard Johnson led off the 9th with a double off the wall, against Wood. That was all for Wood as Manager Thomas called once again on Kimbrel with pinch hitter Mookie Wilson coming to the plate. Mookie came though with a single up the middle and now runners were on the corners with nobody out. Dykstra then flied out to shallow right. Still one out, runners 1st and 3rd. Up came Wally Backman and the switch hitter lined a single over second scoring Johnson to make it 5-4 with Wilson stopping at second. Dave Magadan, another lefty, stepped up and another single - lined up the middle - with Wilson stopping at third. BASES LOADED ONE OUT for Darryl Strawberry. Kimbrel delivered and the Straw Man popped it up to 2B Keith Lockhart. It looked like Kimbrel would get out of the jam. Bases loaded two out and Game 1 hero McReynolds at the plate. But wait Manager Raylesberg is pulling him for a PINCH HITTER! Lefty swinging Mackey Sasser is coming up. Thomas is leaving Kimbrel in there. Sasser works the count to 3-2. The crowd is roaring and you can feel the tension at Shea. BALL FOUR - Sasser draws the walk FORCING IN THE TYING RUN.
Now its Keith Hernandez, another lefty hitter, at the plate and the Mets 1B grounds a single in the hole in right for the GAME WINNING WALK OFF HIT. The Mets and their fans go wild as the Mets pull out a 6-5 win.
Game 3 NEW YORK METS 5 ATLANTA BRAVES 0
The scene shifts to Turner Field in Atlanta and the story this day is TOM SEAVER. The Mets ace pitched one of his best ever KOD games with a complete game 4 hit shutout, walking only one and striking out 9 as he improves to 2-3 on the season.
The Mets got all the runs they needed in the 2d inning, against Braves starter and loser
Mike Minor (3-2). Rookie Gregg Jeffries, getting a rare start at 3B, showed off his
potential with a 2 run HR to give the Mets the lead. Seaver then helped his own cause with
an RBI single to make it 3-0. In the 6th Strawberry hit a solo HR (7) to give the Mets an insurance run,as the ball hit the top of the RF fence and went out. The Mets added another run in the top of the 9th to make the final score 5-0.
For Seaver, it was his first shutout of the season and his third complete game.
The Mets are now 16-11 as they battle with the Cubs and Pirates for the NL East title,with three weeks and 11 games to go. Next week, in another inter division series, the Mets play 1378 Cincinnatti. They will then finish with division series against St. Louis and Chicago with that final series against the Cubs perhaps deciding the title.
Atlanta drops to 13-14, as they trail LA in the West Division. The Braves will play NL East leading Pittsburgh next week before finishing up with division series against San Francisco and Cincinnati
