METS SWEEP BRAVES AND REMAIN IN CONTENTION FOR DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

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

METS TAKE THREE OF FOUR FROM NATIONALS AND TAKE OVER FIRST PLACE IN THE NL EAST

Game 1  at Nationals Field

WAS 3  NY  2

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a 2 RBI double by Kevin McReynolds. Bryce Harper got one back for the Nats with a solo HR (4) in the 4^th. Tom Seaver was in command and took a 2-1 lead into the 7^th but in the 7^th, Washington scored 2 runs on 3 hits as Ryan Zimmerman had the big blow – a pinch hit double scoring two runs. That proved to be enough as Washington held on for the 3-2 win. Tyler Clippard saved it (9) for starter Tanner Roark (2-1). Seaver pitched well in defeat but drops to 1-3 on the year.

 

Game 2 at Nationals Field

NY 5 WAS 4

The Mets took an early 5-0 lead and held on for the victory, despite a big rally by the Nats in the bottom of the 9^th.

The Mets scored 4 in the first, off Gio Gonzalez, on an error by 1B Zimmerman, a 2 RBI double by Strawberry and a sac fly by Howard Johnson. Kevin McReynolds hit a solo dinger (3) in the 3^rd to make it 5-0. With Jerry Koosman cruising along, it looked like it would be an easy Mets win but the Nats stormed back. Bryce Harper homered in the 7^th – his second HR in two days and 5^th of the year to make it 5-1. Then in the bottom of the 9^th, Washington came to life. Kendrick singled in a run to make it 5-2. Koosman then loaded the bases by walking Taylor, with two out. In came Tug McGraw and pinch hitter Adrian Sanchez  greeted him with a double scoring 2 and making it 5-4. Tying run now on 3^rd and winning run on 2d for pinch hitter Jayson Werth. But McGraw fanned him to get his 5^th save of the year and give the Mets a split in DC.

Game 3 at Shea Stadium 1G of DH

NY 2 WAS 0

The Mets came home to Shea Stadium and did not disappoint the sellout crowd. Darryl Strawberry hit a 2 run HR in the 4^th – his 6^th of the year – to give the Mets all the runs they would need. Gary Gentry (3-0) was sensational as he went 8 1/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Tug McGraw came on in the 9^th and picked up his second save in two days and his 6^th of the year – in 6 opportunities. Steven Strasburg (2-2) pitched a complete game in a hard luck loss as he gave up only 4 hits and struck out 9.

 

Game 4 at Shea Stadium 2G of DH

NY 1 WAS 0

In the second game of the twin bill, Jim McAndrew (3-1) pitched the game of his life with a

complete game 1 hit shutout of the powerful Nationals. McAndrew took a no hitter into the 7^th when Bryce Harper’s lead off single broke up the gem. That would be the only hit for Washington. The righthander from Iowa walked 3 and struck out 8. Jordan Zimmerman (2-1) was the hard luck loser as he went 7 2/3, allowing only 1 run on 5 hits. The only run of the game came in the first inning when Strawberry’s sac fly scored Lenny Dykstra who had reached base on a lead off bunt single.

Gary Gentry and Jim McAndrew are now 3 and 4 in the NL ERA leaders at 1.86 and 1.89 respectively. The Nats Strasburg (2.60) and Zimmerman (2.34) are 9^th and 7^th. McAndrew and Gentry are also tied for second in most Wins with 3. McGraw and Washington’s Drew Storen are tied for the lead in Saves with 6. Washington’s Daniel Murphy is 6^th in batting (.359) and Harper is 10^th (.338). Trea Turner leads the NL in SBs with 7 for Washington with the Mets McReynolds and Dykstra second with 5 each. The Mets great 1970 pitching staff has a Team ERA of 2.68, best in the league – with the Nats 2014 pitchers second in the league at 2.89.

The Mets are now 13-8, 1 game ahead of the 12-9 Nationals – with the Cubs and Pirates both at 10-7 pending the results of their games this week against the Cardinals and Phillies respectively. Next for the Mets- a three game series against NL West leading LA Dodgers. Washington will play Cincinnati (6-11).

--submitted by Alan Raylesberg--