Game 29 of 162
Mets 5-Braves 3 (Citi Field, Flushing)
Mets record: 16-13
Mets streak: Won 1
WP - Drew Smith (2-1)
LP - Charlie Morton (3-3)
SV- David Roberton (6)
Seat on the Korner: Francisco Alvarez
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Francisco Alvarez finally showed the type of clutch hitting that people raved about when he was in the minors, lacing a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth. Alvarez went 2-for-4 and appears more comfortable at the plate. Is this a harbinger of more playing time, especially with Tomas Nido's batting average so far below the Medoza line as to be almost nonexistent?
Need to Know
Tylor Megill pitched a solid five innings before tiring in the sixth and giving up a bases-clearing double to Eddie Rosario. Sean Murphy, the third run, was originally called out at the plate after a well-executed relay, but a Braves appeal resulted in the call being overturned.
Megill began the game by hitting Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch. Acuna left the game with shoulder bruise.
Charlie Morton matched Megill before also tiring in the sixth, walking Daniel Vogelbach and Mark Canha before being replaced by Michael Tonkin.
Drew Smith pitched a solid inning and a third in relief of Megill, earning his second win of the season.
Jeff McNeil got his batting average back over .300 (to .304) with a two-hit game that included an eighth-inning homer to give the Mets an insurance run.
After hitting two three-run homers in the first game, Murphy went 2-for-3 in the second. Not wanting to let Murphy beat him, Megill pitched carefully to him in the sixth and walked him, with set up Rosario's double.
Turning Point
After losing the lead in the top of of the sixth, the Mets fought back in the bottom of the frame, with Daniel Vogelbach and Mark Canha drawing walks, Michael Tonkin replaced starting pitcher Charlie Morton and got Brett Baty to fly out before grooving one to Francisco Alvarez, whose double to left put the Mets back ahead.
Three Keys
David Robertson recorded a two-inning save. Manager Buck Showalter brought him in to face the heart of the Braves' order in the eighth and left him in for the ninth. Robertson gave up hits in both innings, but also struck out four.
With all the questions people have been raising about Alvarez' defensive abilities, at least one Mets hurler likes pitching to him. This is what Megill had to say:
The Mets head to Detroit, where Joey Lucchesi is scheduled to pitch Tuesday, with Max Scherzer returning from suspension to take the mound Wednesday, followed by Justin Verlander's season debut Thursday. All weather permitting, of course. Carlos Carrasco may rejoin the rotation next week.
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