Quick Recap: Braves 9, Mets 3 — Burn Down The Banana Stand

Johan Santana's return to the rotation did not go any better than his three starts that preceded his stint on the disabled list. If anything, it went worse. Santana lasted just 1.1 innings, and at the time he was pulled from the game he had given up six runs on eight hits and two walks. Jeremy Hefner came in to take his place and served up a three-run bomb to Freddie Freeman, which put the Braves ahead by nine.

The Mets did score a run in the bottom of the second and two runs in the eighth, for what it's worth.

We knew it was over when...

Freeman hit the three-run home run. A six-run Mets comeback was highly unlikely, but a nine-run deficit? Ouch.

What else?

• It didn't have much of an effect on the outcome of the game, but the Mets' bullpen actually pitched quite well. Hefner was charged with one run in 3.2 innings of work, Manny Acosta threw two perfect innings with two strikeouts, Jon Rauch threw a perfect inning with one strikeout, and Frank Francisco managed a scoreless ninth despite allowing two baserunners.
• Santana's fastball was at its usual 89-to-90 mph this evening, but his health is certainly a question as he continued the worst stretch of his career.
• The Mets are six games under .500, their lowest mark of the season.

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Steve Sypa; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.