Mets blow late lead in crushing 10-inning loss to Braves for fourth straight defeat
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.ATLANTA — As badly as the Braves have performed this season, there is something about playing the Mets, particularly in Truist Park, that brings out their late-inning heroics.Tuesday night the Mets appeared to be sailing, but the wind suddenly changed and the boat capsized.A three-run lead disappeared in the eighth before Austin Riley hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning against Huascar Brazobán that sent the Mets to a 5-4 loss.The Mets lost their fourth straight on a night they managed to place only six runners in scoring position and delivered only once.Brazobán intentionally walked Ronald Acuña Jr.
to begin the 10th, with the automatic runner at second base.After Alex Verdugo was retired, Brazobán threw a wild pitch that moved the winning run to third base.Matt Olson walked to load the bases before Riley ended it with a drive to the center field fence.It was the Mets’ first appearance here since last September’s doubleheader in which the team won a wild first game on Francisco Lindor’s ninth-inning homer and celebrated the clinching of a National League wild-card berth.David Peterson, after seven strong innings, returned to the mound for the eighth but was removed after walking Nick Allen and allowing a single to Acuña to begin the frame.
Reed Garrett surrendered a single to Verdugo that loaded the bases and recorded two outs before Marcell Ozuna smashed a bases-clearing double that tied it 4-4.Garrett, who allowed an earned run for the second time in three appearances, retired Ozzie Albies with the go-ahead run at second base.Peterson allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over seven innings and threw 93 pitches.
It followed his complete-game shutout last week against the Nationals.The lefty has pitched at least seven innings in four of his past five starts.Juan...