The wait was worth it.
After a nearly two-hour rain delay in the Braves series opener against the Mets, the fans that stuck around at Truist Park received a treat to start a pivotal series in June.
Ozzie Albies got the party started in the second inning with a long homer to center field, his third in his last five games. However, the Mets would answer in a big way in the third off of Bryce Elder, who entered the contest as the major-league leader in ERA.
For most of the night, Elder was brilliant as he has been all season, but he made a two-strike mistake to Francisco Lindor, hanging a slider over the middle of the plate, and the Mets shortstop didn’t miss it, putting New York on top with a two-run shot. Two batters later, it was the same pitch that got Elder in trouble. This time, to Pete Alonso, who hit another two-run homer, stretching the Mets lead to three.
After the knock, Alonso was caught on camera mocking Elder, saying, “Throw it again.” Unfortunately, for New York, it would be the Braves that would get the last laugh.
Elder settled down following the two homers and was able to make it through six innings without allowing another run, and following his final pitch, the Braves offense came to life.
A walk to start the bottom of the sixth was the start of trouble for Carlos Carrasco. Austin Riley then singled and took second, thanks to lackadaisical defense from the Mets. Then Sean Murphy cut the lead to just one with a double, leading to Carrasco’s exit.
Also caught on the broadcast following Murphy’s double was Tyler Matzek shouting, “Throw it again,” as Carrasco walked off the mound. It may only be June, but this game had a late September feel to it, and just like eight months ago, it would be the Braves coming up with the big plays in the final innings.
Still in the sixth inning, Marcell Ozuna tied the game with a two-out double. A wild pitch would advance him to third, and Orlando Arcia would come through with a hard-hit ball up the middle, giving the Braves a one-run lead.
Atlanta added to their lead in the top of the ninth, thanks to some more shoddy defense by the Mets on an Eddie Rosario double, allowing him to take third. However, Raisel Iglesias didn’t need the insurance. He came in the game and looked a lot like the closer Braves fans had become accustomed to after the trade deadline last year, setting the Mets down in order and giving Atlanta the 1-0 series lead.
The win kept the gap between the Braves and the Marlins at an even three games in the NL East. It also stretched Atlanta’s lead over New York to 6.5 games, who have now lost four in a row. It may only be June, but it feels like the Braves already have their foot on the neck of the Mets, and they have a chance to step on it leading into the weekend with Charlie Morton and Spencer Strider on the mound for Games 2 and 3.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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