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Final Score: Braves 5, Mets 3—On Second Thought...

A blown save by Diaz, a quiet offense, and the new extra innings rule combined to burn the Mets in the season’s second game.

MLB: Atlanta Braves at New York Mets Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

After eight innings, things had played out very much as they had on Opening Day. The Mets had a one-run lead thanks to some solid pitching and Edwin Diaz was entering the game with a chance to record a save. But a blown save elicited memories of 2019 and opened the door for a three-run Braves tenth as the Mets fell 5-3 in the second game of the year.

Atlanta struck first with with a solo home run off the bat of Adam Duvall in the second, a laser that struck the Willow McNeil cardboard cutout in right. The Mets retaliated in the fifth with two runs, which came from an Amed Rosario triple that drove home Michael Conforto and a Jeff McNeil sacrifice fly. Steven Matz settled down and ended up allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts over six strong innings.

Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, and Justin Wilson combined to throw two shutout innings, which set the stage for Diaz in the ninth. After two quick outs, he served up a fastball that Marcell Ozuna deposited into the right field bullpen to tie the game. After the Mets failed to score, we got our first look at the ridiculous new MLB rule that positions a free runner on second base in extra innings. The Braves capitalized right away off Hunter Strickland, driving the bonus runner home on a Dansby Swanson single.

Atlanta added two more runs to pad their lead. While the Mets were able to capitalize on their gift runner with a Dominic Smith sacrifice fly, it was too-little-too-late in a loss.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

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

  1. LaRomaBella: 221
  2. MetsFan4Decades: 167
  3. deegie: 87
  4. stickguy: 71
  5. YuretRastin: 68
  6. olderfan62: 67
  7. Must End The Suffering: 45
  8. AnneInFlushing: 38
  9. Knurk: 37
  10. doctor prancer: 32