Mets vs. Braves Game 9 Recap

New York Mets RHP Michael Wacha (Credits to Newsday.com)

The New York Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 7-1 tonight for their fourth consecutive loss and dropped their record to 3-6. RHP Michael Wacha got off to a tough start in the bottom of the first inning after he gave up a two-run homer to LF Marcell Ozuna. Wacha continued to struggle in the bottom of the second inning after he gave up back-to-back RBI doubles to catcher Tyler Flowers and RF Ronald Acuna Jr. 2B Ozzie Albies followed with a RBI single. He stayed in for another two innings and was taken out after the bottom of the fourth. His final line was 4 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. RHP Franklin Kilome came in next for his MLB debut and had a rocky beginning allowing a RBI single to centerfielder Ender Incarte in the bottom of the fifth and a solo homer to Acuna Jr in the bottom of the sixth. Kilome settled in after that and set the Braves hitters down in order in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. He gave the rest of the bullpen a much needed rest and fortunately was able to eat up innings. Kilome featured a popping fastball in the mid 90's as well as some sharp off speed including a slider and change-up. He showed that he has the stuff to handle more high leverage situations and hopefully will get that opportunity since the pen has shown to be unreliable so far.

The offense wasted several scoring opportunities with men on base in the early innings and wasn't able to capitalize. In the top of the fifth inning after they loaded the bases again, 2B Robinson Cano drove in the only run of the game with a sacrifice fly. They wound up with six hits all night with Cano and RF Michael Conforto the only members of the starting lineup with multiple hits. CF Brandon Nimmo reached base three times after he drew two walks and was hit by a pitch.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon at the Braves at 1:10 p.m.