Final Score: Braves 3, Mets 2-Meet the new Montero, same as the old Montero

Rafael Montero had been pitching better as of late, but he is still Rafael Montero and one inning proved to be his undoing in the 3-2 loss.

The Braves jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but the Mets immediately tied up the game an inning later with a manufactured run. Gavin Ceechini led off the inning with a double, and after Montero sacrificed him over, he came home on Jose Reyes’s groundout.

Dominic Smith continued his torrid September and handed the Mets the lead when he doubled home Asdrubal Cabrera with two-out in the fourth.

Unfortunately an inning later, Montero reached his breaking point and could not make it out of the fifth. Ender Inciarte first tied the game with an RBI single, and then Lane Adams put Atlanta on top with a sacrifice fly. Montero departed the game with the bases loaded and two-out in the fifth.

The Mets had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game in the sixth, after they loaded the bases with one out against starter Sean Newcomb. The Braves went to their bullpen and Juan Lagares grounded into a double play to end the inning. The offense didn’t put together another threat until the eighth, but this time with two-outs Dominic Smith flew out to end the inning.

They nearly had a rally in the ninth, but a close play at second was upheld after the umpires reviewed the instant replay. After that decision the game came to an end when Matt Reynolds grounded out.

The bullpen combination of Chasen Bradford, Tommy Milone, Jerry Blevins, and Paul Sewald was fine and gave the Mets a chance to come back even of they did not seize the opportunity.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. MetsFan4Decades: 154
2. MookieTheCat: 85
3. Kepler: 83
4. OuttaHereOuttaHere: 68
5. BK_Machetero3191: 53
6. The Glider: 46
7. Oak Beach Inn: 44
8. Gina: 42
9. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 38
10. LaRomaBella: 36