A six-run fourth was all the Braves needed as the staff kept the Mets off the board after the fourth inning, giving the Braves a much-needed win, 6-4.
The Mets struck for three runs in the second on three RBI singles by Lucas Duda, Jonathon Niese and Jose Reyes. These were preceded by a bad call by Bill Hohn that probably got to Tommy Hanson. It also got to Bobby Cox, who was thrown out because of the call. Hohn is a jackass, but this is nothing new.
The Braves showed something tonight by coming back from the early three-run deficit, taking advantage of an error that left two on base with one out in the fourth. With two outs, Melky Cabrera singled in one. Hanson walked to load the bases, and the two big hits followed in the form of a two-run double by Omar Infante and a three-run home run by Jason Heyward. Heyward’s shot was still on a line when it hit the front of the upper deck. Easily one of the hardest hit balls I’ve ever seen.
Duda hit a solo homer in the home half of the fourth to cut the lead to two. However, Hanson settled down and didn’t allow another baserunner for the remainder of his outing. The Mets reached base one more time in the game.
Hanson allowed four runs on five hits in six innings, walking one and striking out four. The three runs came in large part to bleeders, and his one big mistake was the home run to Duda. He had solid control and didn’t let walks beat him. It’s another good outing for Hanson. Jonny Venters gave up a double in the seventh but left him on. Takashi Saito struck out the first two batters in the eighth before coming out with an apparent shoulder injury. Peter Moylan got the final out in the inning. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth.
Heyward went 2-5 with a homer and three RBIs. His other hit was a single in which he ended up on second base due to heads up baserunning and idiocy by Carlos Beltran. Heyward also made a great play in the outfield. Infante’s only hit was a two-run double that tied the game. He also walked once. Melky picked up the other RBI. Derrek Lee went 1-2 with two walks.
The Phillies won their seventh straight to hold their three-game lead. The Padres are on their way to losing a blowout to the Cardinals, giving the Braves a 1.5 game lead over them in the Wild Card. Saturday’s game starts at 4:10 on FOX. Tim Hudson faces Dillon Gee.
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