Game Recap: Braves spoil another great start from Jaime Garcia, fall to Mets

Jaime Garcia was phenomenal once again on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough, as the New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, at SunTrust Park.

The Mets picked up their third win over the Braves in two days, sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday and winning the series finale on Sunday after the Braves won the first game of the series on Friday night.

New York struck first, as Michael Conforto struck the first pitch of the game off the wall in left center field for a double. He was moved to third on a Juan Lagares sacrifice bunt and came around to score on Wilmer Flores’ sac fly. Just as simple as that, it was 1-0 Mets after three hitters.

The first inning began what would be a rough day for Matt Adams at the plate. After Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp stroked back-to-back singles with two outs in the opening frame, Adams flew out to left to end the inning.

Adams came up with the bases loaded in the fifth, and grounded into what would turn out to be an inning-ending double play. On the 6-4-3 turn, Adams was initially ruled safe at first, but the Mets challenged the call and he was determined to be out.

The Braves did tie the game briefly by manufacturing a run of their own in the bottom of the second. Tyler Flowers led off the frame with a double and scored two batters later on a Dansby Swanson sacrifice fly to make it 1-1.

Mets pitcher Seth Lugo helped himself and hit a double in the third and Lagares drove him home with a two-out knock to give Lugo the 2-1 lead, all he would need on the afternoon.

The Mets left the bases loaded twice, but Garcia got Lugo to strike out to end the fourth inning and Ian Krol induced a pop up from Yoenis Cespedes to end the eighth inning.

Krol came in to relieve Jose Ramirez in the ninth after he got into some trouble, and Krol has now retired 17 consecutive hitters.

The Braves were unable to capitalize on Garcia’s fifth consecutive quality start and one of his best of the season. He struck out nine over seven innings and surrendered just two runs on seven hits.

Lugo made his season debut for the Mets and was stellar over his seven innings of work. He allowed just the one run on six hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.

The Braves are back in action on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. ET, as they begin a three-game set with the Washington Nationals.