The Atlanta Braves were unable to come up with a big hit when they needed it in a 1-0 loss to the New York Mets in the nightcap of Monday’s doubleheader.
The Braves needed a better effort from Bryse Wilson Monday and he largely delivered. Wilson allowed a two-out single to Jeff McNeil and then hit Dominic Smith, but got J.D. Davis to ground out to leave the runners stranded.
Atlanta threatened in the second as Austin Riley reached on a pop up that Pete Alonso lost in the sky for an infield single. Dansby Swanson followed with a single of his own but Jeurys Familia struck out Guillermo Heredia, Abraham Almonte and Kevan Smith to escape.
James McCann reached on a two-out single in the second but Wilson struck out Travis Blankenhorn to end the inning. Wilson again allowed the lead off man to reach in the third as Brandon Nimmo worked a walk, but he recovered and sat down the next three hitters in order.
Things started to go sideways for Wilson in the fourth. Davis led off the inning with a double off the wall in right center. Michael Conforto followed with a single to right to put runners at first and third with no one out. That would be the end of the line for Wilson as Brian Snitker summoned Jesse Chavez from the bullpen. Chavez struck out Jonathan Villar for the first out and then got James McCann to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
In play, out(s).#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/Dtzzl5UDQl
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 27, 2021
The Mets pushed the first run of the game across in the fifth against Luke Jackson. Nimmo reached on an infield single that was deflected off Swanson’s glove at short with one out. Jackson struck out Alonso with a nasty slider for the second out but then a first pitch slider up and out over the plate to Jeff McNeil who doubled over the head of Heredia in center. Nimmo scored on the play to give New York a 1-0 lead.
The Braves threatened in the sixth but again came away empty. Joc Pederson led off the inning with a single off of Seth Lugo. Ozzie Albies followed with a walk and the Braves were in business. Freddie Freeman just missed a three run homer to left as Kevin Pillar made the play against the fence. Lugo then got Riley to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Sean Newcomb worked a scoreless sixth but Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the seventh to close it out.
The loss drops Atlanta to 49-51 on the season and they are once again five games back in the division. They will try to make up some ground again on Tuesday with Charlie Morton on the mound.