ATLANTA — Tommy Pham replaced Pete Alonso in the cleanup spot and played the role as cast. However, the rest of the game didn’t go according to the script.
The Mets avoided the worst with Alonso but failed to avoid the worst in this series. For the second night in a row, the Mets went up 4-1 on the Atlanta Braves before falling behind, 5-4, and ultimately losing, 7-5.
With two out in the bottom of the eighth, Michael Harris II teed off on Adam Ottavino sending a two-run homer over the wall to hand the Mets (30-32) their fifth straight loss and their second straight series loss. For the second night in a row, the Mets went up 4-1 on the Braves (37-24). This time, they went up 2-0 before Max Scherzer gave up a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.
Alonso was removed from the game with what the team is calling a “left wrist contusion,” after being hit on the left wrist with a 97 MPH fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning. He left the game to undergo imaging Pham replaced him in the batting order and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and three RBI.
The outfielder’s two-run homer off Morton in the fifth momentarily gave the Mets a 4-1 lead and he tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Pham came up with the bases loaded and one out. He stared at the first four pitches from Kirby Yates before fouling one off and working the count full. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Pham launched a towering fly ball toward the right-center field wall. Somehow, Ronald Acuna Jr. came up with the ball after making a spectacular leaping catch.
The fly ball scored Brandon Nimmo to tie the game at 5-5.
It remained tied until the eighth. Brooks Raley started the inning and was charged with the loss after his baserunner scored on Harris’ homer. He was removed after giving up a double to Marcell Ozuna. The Mets played it conservative by pulling Raley after giving up hard contact, but it was a gamble to throw Ottavino on back-to-back nights.
A.J. Minter recorded the save with a perfect ninth.
Pham’s two-run blast in the fifth doubled their run total and gave Scherzer some breathing room. But no lead is safe against the Braves. In the bottom of the inning, Sean Murphy hit one of his own to bring the Braves to within one run.
Atlanta rallied with two outs to score two more in the sixth to chase Scherzer from the game after five earned runs on 11 hits and a season-high 10 strikeouts.
This was Scherzer’s 111th double-digit strikeout game. The veteran right-hander surpassed Roger Clemens for third all-time in double-digit strikeout games, with Randy Johnson (212) and Nolan Ryan (215) still well ahead of the rest of the field.
Right after Scherzer logged that 10th strikeout, the hard hits came. Orlando Arcia doubled off the left-center wall. Harris pulled one to right field to score Arcia and tie the game. Acuna Jr. scored him with a single through the left side.
Scherzer exited after 5 and 2/3 innings. Neither starter factored into the decision, with Morton leaving after 4 and 2/3. He was charged with four runs on four hits and he also walked four and hit one batter.
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Source: Berkshire mont
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