postGame: Mets 9 Braves 5
The first-place Mets (86–67) defeated the Braves (67–87) by the score of 9 to 5 in Atlanta, tonight.
For a recap, boxscore and stats from tonight’s game, click here.
Thank you, Daniel Murphy.
With one out and two on in the eighth inning, the ‘super rookie’ stroked a pinch-hit doubled to left field that broke a 5-5 tie. I don’t care who the opposing starting pitcher is, Murphy needs to the everyday left fielder from here on out. As Cerrone likes to say, ‘Daniel Murphy means business.’
For the second time in three games, Jose Reyes led off the game with a homerun. Reyes is now batting .400 during the Mets current road trip.
Nick Evans, batting in an unfamiliar eighth hole, hit a key homerun in the fourth to break a 3-3 tie.
A porous Mets defense didn’t help Oliver Perez‘s cause tonight, but the left-hander pitched effectively through six innings, allowing four runs, three earned, while walking three and striking out six. Earlier this season, i.e. San Francisco, where Ollie would have had a meltdown if his defense played as poorly as they did tonight. However, Ollie stayed composed and pitched effective, looking especially impressive in the sixth.
After Ollie left, Jerry Manuel played another round of Let’s Make A Deal with his relievers, bringing in five pitchers to secure the final nine outs, with Aaron Heilman, yes that Aaron Heilman, getting the biggest out of them all in the seventh.
The Phillies lost tonight, meaning the Mets now lead the National League East by one game in the loss column.
The Mets continue their three-game series with the Braves in Atlanta tomorrow night, starting at 7:10 pm, with Pedro Martinez (5-5, 5.47 ERA) taking on Jorge Campillo (7-7, 3.79 ERA).
