Atlanta Braves Crushed 10-3 by Mets In Final Meeting at Turner Field
By Fred Owens
Fourth and Long Ball
James Loney hit a one out, fence scraper homer to right, putting the Mets up six zip. Rene Rivera singled sharply to center but De La Cruz coaxed what should have been a double play ball out of Lugo. Instead of throwing to second however De La Cruz threw to first but got out of the inning without further damage when Reyes Struck out.
The Braves made some noise in the home half as Adonis Garcia led off with a line drive double to left. Freeman followed with a single to center scoring Garcia, Matt Kemp lined a single to left and a Markakis single loaded the bases with no one out.
The Braves had Lugo on the ropes but the Braves couldn’t land a jab much less knock him out. Anthony Recker popped up on the infield to Loney for the first out and Dansby Swanson grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Mets resumed the punishment in the fifth when Cabrera led off with a single. Cespedes walked signaling the end of the day for De La Cruz when manager Brian Snitker brought in lefty Jed Bradley.
Bradley was good as a starter in the minors but awful as a reliever and that trend continued with this outing.
Granderson hit a ground ball to Freeman who managed to for Cespedes at second for the first out but Granderson beat the throw back to first. Kelly Johnson singled sharply past Freeman scoring Cabrera and sending Granderson to third.
Alejandro De Aza repeated that formula with a single that scored Granderson and moving Johnson to third. Loney continued to expose Markakis doubling over his head, and driving in Johnson and moving De Aza to third.
The Braves intentionally walked Rivera to load the bases and get to the pitcher but Lugo foiled that plan lifting a sacrifice fly to right scoring De Aza.
When the dust settled the Mets were up 10-2 and the game effectively over.
Next: The Final Three