Braves 5, Mets 1: A Split Would Have Been Nice

Considering the Braves entered the day with a 97.2% chance of making the playoffs, per Baseball Prospectus, and won the first game of the double header, there wasn't a whole lot the Mets could do today to play spoiler. It still would have been nice to give Larry Jones' team a little extra something to think about heading into their weekend series with the Cardinals.

Each team scored a run in the first inning, with Michael Bourn reaching on an errant throw by Jose Reyes to start the game. He stole second and later scored on a Dan Uggla single. The Mets' run in the bottom of the inning came after Reyes and Justin Turner each singled. Reyes moved to third on a fly out by Lucas Duda and scored on another one by Jason Bay.

Neither Dillon Gee nor Julio Teheran allowed much of anything through the fourth inning, but Martin Prado doubled to lead off the fifth inning. Despite having to hold at second base on the ensuing nifty play by Justin Turner at third base, Prado scored on a David Ross check-swing single to give the Braves their second lead of the game.

In the seventh, Jack Wilson led off with a double, and Gee was pulled in favor of Danny Ray Herrera. The Braves sacrificed Wilson to third with a bunt, and Chipper Jones hit a sacrifice fly to put the Braves up by two. All in all, Gee had a decent game, striking out six and walking two over six innings of work.

Pedro Beato threw the eighth and ninth innings, struggling once again as he gave up two runs in the ninth. The first came on a David Ross solo shot near the apple, and the second came on a double by Jones.

Three Braves relievers allowed only two hits over three-and-two-thirds innings, putting the Mets down quietly to sweep the double header. One of the two hits came from Val Pascucci, making his Mets debut and first appearance in the big leagues since 2004 after mashing in Buffalo all season long.

The Mets host the Chicago Cubs tomorrow at 7:10 pm at Citi Field. Mike Pelfrey takes the hill for the Metsies, and Casey Coleman is set to start for the Cubbies.

SB Nation Coverage

* Traditional Recap
* Boxscore
* Amazin' Avenue Gamethread
* Talking Chop Gamethread

Win Probability Added

Big winners: Jason Bay, +10.4% WPA
Big losers: Nick Evans, -20.8% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Alex Gonzalez pops out with the bases loaded in the sixth, +7.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: David Ross go-ahead single in the fifth, -13.0% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -9.9% WPA
Total batter WPA: -40.1% WPA
GWRBI!: David Ross

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.