Atlanta Braves Win Sunday Finale To Split Series

Garcia Unloads

The plate was moving around a bit on Verrett and he fell behind the Braves third baseman 3-1. On the next pitch he threw a thigh high fastball that he immediately wished he had back as Garcia sent deep into the left center field stands putting the braves up 5-1.

Jeff Francouer singled to left but Verrett and the Mets escaped with no further damage.

With a five run lead Braves managers Brian Snitker went to Alexi Ogando to start the ninth. Ogando has been pretty good but high leverage situations have not been his strong suit.

Today was no except as the Mets immediate started a rally when Matt Reynold led off with s double over Inciarte’s head in center. Inciarte misplayed the ball and Reynolds ended up on third.

Cespedes hit a groundball deep into the hole that Chase d’Arnaud handled well and threw a rocket to first to get the out as Reynolds scored. Walker kept up the pressure with a double to right brining Loney to the plate.

Loney swung at the first pitch and lifted a fly ball in no man’s land down the left field line but once again Garcia was their to make an over the shoulder catch for out number two.

Ogando got ahead of Flores 0-2 but left the next pitch in the hitting zone Flores singled to left scoring Walker. That was enough drama for Snitker so he brought in Arodys Vizcaino who ended the rally by striking out Nimmo.

The Good and the Not So Good

Good

There was plenty of good this afternoon beginning with Norris looking like the guy who pitched so well for Baltimore in 2015, raising his trade value as all the scouts in the stands made furious notes. In the five starts since returning to the rotation he’s thrown 29 1/3 innings striking out 29 and walking just 8 posting a 2.15 ERA and a WHIP of 1.000.

The hero of the day was Garcia who aside from the two spectacular catches and the home run made several very good plays at third and just missed another over the should catch in the ninth.  To quote Joe Simpson on the Fox Sports Southeast Broadcast, “Who is this man and what have they done with Adonis Garcia.”  Since returning from Gwinnett where he went to work on playing left field, he’s been a completely different ballplayer.

Freeman had another great day annoying the Mets with a double, and single to go along with his homer and two plays that robbed the Mets of hits at crucial points on the game.

Not So Good

Ogando seems to lack confidence in late inning situations, odd because he used to thrive on them. Today was a perfect example of that and if it continues he may find himself in a mop up role.

This maybe picking nits because in the end he struck out the hitter he had to strike out but lately Vizcaino’s first few pitches after entering the game have not been strikes. We saw Craig Kimbrel go through similar patches when he was with Atlanta and correct things so I hope Vizcaino can do the same.

Next: Wrapping up