Mets Beat Braves 4-2 in first game of doubleheader behind Jacob deGrom

Mets LF Dom Smith (Photo Credits to Brad Penner-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 this afternoon in first game of the doubleheader at Citi Field and improved their record to 37-29. The offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first after 3B Jonathan Villar led off with a walk, and thenb SS Francisco Lindor then sacrified him to second. LF Dominic Smith flew out to right which moved Villar to third and Villar scored on a wild pitch by Braves starter RHP Kyler Muller. The bats went quiet for the next few innings until the bottom of the fifth after catcher Tomas Nido was hit by a pitch with one out, pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil followed with a single, Villar hit an infield single to load the bases and then two batters later, Smith came up and broke the game open with a three-run double. RHP Jacob deGrom made his return off the injured list and had an outstanding start with five scoreless innings allowing one hit and two walks with six strikeouts. deGrom picked up his seventh win and lowered his ERA to 0.50. He has now thrown 30 2/3 consecutive scorless innings. He tried Bob Gibson's record from 1968 of 12 straight starts with one run or less. RHP Seth Lugo followed in the top of the sixth and had a difficult outing after he walked 1B Freddie Freeman with one out and then gave up a two-run homer to 2B Ozzie Albies. RHP Edwin Diaz came on in the top of the seventh and closed it out with a 1--2-3 top of the seventh and picked up his 15th save. The Mets next game is tonight against the Braves.