Braves Shutdown Mets Offense In 9-2 Victory

The Atlanta Braves arrived at Citi Field on Thursday in second place, up 1.5 games on the Mets, but in a tailspin, having lost four straight games. Then the Mets won the first two games of the four game series to overtake the Braves for second place.

But on Saturday, Atlanta received a near perfect game from starter Spencer Schwellenbach, as he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, no walks and struck out 11 batters. With just enough timely hits the Braves scored four runs and went on to defeat the Mets 4-0 and retake second place by .5 game.

On Sunday, the Braves offense exploded for nine runs, the most they have scored in a game since June 22, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2.

After three scoreless innings for both teams, Atlanta scored four runs in the on Matt Olson‘s three run home run, and Orlando Arcia‘s bases loaded walk.

Then in the seventh they added a three spot, after Arcia’s eight home run on the season, and Austin Riley‘s 14th, a two run shot to increase the lead to 7-2. And the just for good measures, the Braves added two more in the top of the eighth, on Ramon Laureano‘s two run bomb. The Mets avoided a second straight shutout by scoring two in the bottom of the eighth,  after Pete Alonso‘s 21st home run on the season, a two run shot over the center field fence.

The Braves did not have all good news on the day as starter Reynaldo Lopez went only three innings and then left the game with right forearm tightness.

Atlanta pitching staff has suffered through injuries this season, as pitchers Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Ray Kerr, Tyler Matzek, Angel Perdomo, Hurston Waldrep, and Huascar Ynoa have all been affected by arm injuries. The injuries have not only affected the pitchers, but also position players as Ronald Acuna Jr.is gone for 2024 due to a Left ACL tear, Michael Harris II has a strained left hamstring and Ozzie Albies has a fractured left wrist.

The hopes is that Lopez can recover quickly and continue to pitch in 2024, especially for a team holding on to a Wild Card Spot.

David Conde

David is the Founder and Co-Owner of Legends On Deck and Co-Host of the Legends On Deck Podcast. A lifelong sports fan with a special passion for the New York Mets and New York Knicks, David has spent more than a decade covering the sports he loves. From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Senior Editor for MetsMerized Online and Mets Minors, and in June 2014 fulfilled a lifelong dream by covering the New York Mets at Citi Field as a credentialed writer. As Legends On Deck has expanded beyond baseball, David has enjoyed diving into more sports, learning along the way and sharing those stories with readers and listeners. Married for over 27 years and the proud father of two adult sons, he continues to connect with sports fans through Legends On Deck, the podcast and social media.