Mets vs. Braves Game 129 Recap

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 9-5 tonight for their second consecutive loss and dropped their record to 67-62. RHP Zack Wheeler started out well with a scoreless top of the first inning, but  in the top of the second inning, he gave up back-to-back walks to RF Matt Joyce and SS Adeiny Hechavarria and then a two-run double to newly acquired Braves catcher Francisco Cervelli. In the top of the third inning, Wheeler gave up a solo homer to RF Matt Joyce and another solo homer to 3B Josh Donaldson later in the inning. He settled down after that with scoreless innings in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the sixth inning, Wheeler gave up an RBI single to LF Rafael Ortega which was an unearned run after Cervilli reached on an error by 3B Todd Frazier in the previous at-bat and Wheeler was taken out after the inning. His final line was six innings, five runs (four earned), four walks and three strikeouts. LHP Luis Avilan came in next and threw a scoreless top of the seventh inning. RHP Brad Brach came on in the top of the eighth and gave up back-to-back two out hits to  Ortega, pinch-hitter Billy Hamilton and CF Ronald Acuna Jr. RHP Edwin Diaz came on in the top of the ninth inning and gave up a solo homer to 1B Freddie Freeman. Diaz had to come out of the game due to trap tightness. RHP Chris Flexen had to come in and gave up an RBI single to Cervilli.

The offense was held scoreless for the first two innings until the bottom of the third inning after CF Juan Lagares led off with a double, two batters later SS Amed Rosario singled and 2B Joe Panik grounded into a fielder's choice which brought home a run. Lagares hit another double with one out in the bottom of the fifth and advanced to third after Braves starter LHP Max Fried threw a wild pitch. Rosario drove him with an RBI single. Panik followed with a single and after Fried threw his third wild pitch, 1B Pete Alonso came up and hit a three-run homer , his 41st of the year, which tied a club record set by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran for most homers in a season to give the Mets a 5-4 lead. The bats were unable to capitalize after that after having opportunities to score.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon at home against the Braves at 1:10 p.m. in the final game of the series.