Remembering Mets History (2022) Mets Sweep Braves In Twin Bill

 Saturday August 6th, 2022: Buck Schowalter's New York Mets were coming off a loss to the Atlanta Braves the previous night, still holding a 3.5 game lead over them in first place. Today was a day / night double header, the first game in front of 37,790 at Citi Field.

The starters were David Peterson (5-20 for the Mets & Jake Odorizzi (4-3) making his first start as a Brave. 

In the 1st inning, Starling Marte was hit by a pitch & Francisco Lindor git on with an infield single. Pete Alonso then singled driving in his 91st run of the year, to tie for the MLB lead. Then Daniel Vogelbach singled to right bringing in Lindor with the second run. It was Vogelbach's tenth hit & sixth RBI since joining the Mets on July 24th, this his 12th game.

In the 3rd. Francisco Lindor singled & reached second on a throwing error, when Odorizzi attempted a pick off. Jeff McNeil singled to right bringing in the Mets third run.

David Peterson had a fine outing, getting to the 6th inning shutting out Atlanta on three hits with five strike outs. Buck Schowalter brought in Seth Lugo in the 6th.

In the 6th, with two outs, the Mets had yet another two-out rally. Brandon Nimmo & Starling Marte both walked. Francisco Lindor blasted a double to right center field. The play had to be reviewed as it just missed being a HR. Both Nimmo & Marte scored making it 5-0.

In the top of the 7th, Orlando Arcia doubled & Ronald Acuna Jr. singled bringing in Arcia. After Seth Lugo hit Austin Riley with a pitch, Schowalter removed him Lugo for Adam Ottavino. Matt Olson singled to bring in the second Brave run.

In the bottom of the 7th, with one out, Mark Canha was hit by a pitch. Luis Guillorme singled to left. James McCann then drove a much-needed single to left field scoring Canha. Brandon Nimmo then reached on an infield single to load the bases.

Starling Marte then singled to bring in Guillorme & Lindor hit a sac fly to center field scoring Nimmo with the Mets 8th run. 

In the 9th Yohan Lopez couldn't close the door, giving up three runs on three hits. Edwin Diaz had to be brought in again to save the day. Diaz closed it out getting William Contreras to ground out & striking out Eddie Rosario to end the game. It was Diaz 25th save of the year.

David Peterson earned his 6th win (6-2). After the game he was optioned to AAA Syracuse to keep him going as a starter, especially as an August 20th double header with the Phillies is scheduled & he will be needed. The Mets went 4,5 games up on the Braves.

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In the nightcap the Mets sent Max Scherzer (7-2) to the mound to face Max Fried (10-3) in the battle of the Max's. But it was all about Max Scherzer once again tonight. Scherzer pitched seven innings, throwing a season high 108 pitches, shutting down the Braves offense to no runs on just four hits & matching his season high 11 strikeouts. It was the third time he reached 11 strike outs on the season & the fifth time he surpassed double digits in K's.

Quotes- Max Scherzer: "This is what you play the game for, you play to face the best, especially
deep in the season. You grind it out here in the NL East".

In the 3rd, Tomas Nido led off with a double, two batters later Starling Marte drew a one out walk. Francisco Lindor then singled to center to load the bases. Pete Alonso then singled driving in the first run of the game, driving in his 93rd MLB leading RBI of the year. Alonso would have three hits in the game.

Quotes- Pete Alosno: "We're motivated & we want to continue to play well. Our goal is to make the playoffs, win the division & have a chance to play for a World Series. Every single day is an opportunity to move one inch closer".

Next in a crazy play, Darin Ruf grounded to first base, Matt Olsen threw to Dansby Swanson to get the out at second. Swanson threw wildly to first, where pitcher Max Freud was covering, he then made an off-balance throw to home, the throw went wild as Marte & Lindor both scored giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.

In the 5th, Travis d'Arnaud doubled &Michael Harris singled. Ehire Adrianza hit a sharp grounder to Luis Guillorme at second. d'Arnaud tried to score from third, but Guillorme threw home & Tomas Nido tagged him for the out.

In the 6th, Pete Alonso & Darin Ruf singled to start the inning. After Eduardo Escobar flew out, Mark Canha hit a bouncer to third, Pete Alonso broke for home, Matt Olson threw home to Travis d'Arnaud who was blocking the plate. Alonso slid under the tag & into d'Arnaud, shaking him up, as he had to leave the game. After review, Alonso was ruled safe, making it 4-0.

In the 7th, Scherzer struck out the side to end his fine night.

In the 8th, Eduardo Escobar doubled to right field, his 21st double of the year. One of the newest Mets, Tyler Naquin pinch hit for Mark Canha, he delivered again with his eighth Mets hit in his eighth Mets game. The base hit drove in Escobar with the Mets fifth run.

After Luis Guillorme lined out, Tomas Nido pulled off one of the most exciting plays in baseball, he laid down a perfect bunt on a suicide squeeze, as Tyler Naquin scored from third base, making it 6-1 Mets.

The Braves put up a run in both the 8th & 9th innings off relievers Michael Givens & Trevor May. May in just his second game back, earned his first save of the year, getting Marcel Ozuna to line out to left.

The Mets went to 69-39, thirty games over .500 for the first time since 2006. They took a 5.5 game lead over the Braves, their largest lead since June 21st. The double header sweep was their fourth on the year. They had now taken seven of eleven from Braves on the 2022 season.