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          New York Mets

          Rapid Reaction: Braves 6, Mets 4

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterJun 21, 2015, 02:23 AM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          ATLANTA -- The New York Mets lost a ballgame and their starting catcher Saturday night at Turner Field. Oh, they also dropped out of first place in the NL East.

          A.J. Pierzynski scored the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the sixth on Pedro Ciriaco's sacrifice fly. Travis d'Arnaud, trying to apply a swipe tag on Pierzynski after accepting a throw from left fielder Michael Cuddyer, received a jolt to his left elbow when he made contact with the burly baserunner. The blow dislodged the baseball.

          D'Arnaud rolled around in discomfort, then departed. The Mets went on to lose to the Atlanta Braves, 6-4.

          X-rays were negative, and d'Arnaud was diagnosed with a hyperextended left elbow. He officially is day-to-day, the team announced.

          The Washington Nationals, fueled by Max Scherzer's no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, leapfrogged the Mets (36-34) and took a half-game lead atop the division.

          Solo homers by Curtis Granderson in the fifth and d'Arnaud in the sixth against Braves starter Williams Perez had pulled the Mets even at 4. D'Arnaud also had contributed a two-run single in the first inning.

          Saturday marked only d'Arnaud's 19th game this season. He had fractured his right pinkie when he was struck with a pitch from Miami Marlins reliever A.J. Ramos on April 19 and missed nearly two months.

          The Mets dropped to 10-23 on the road.

          Down and out: Noah Syndergaard lasted a career-low-matching four innings. He was charged with four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in an 88-pitch no-decision. He has a 6.75 ERA in his past four starts.

          The Mets had a couple of defensive blunders behind Syndergaard. Neither middle infielder -- Ruben Tejada nor Dilson Herrera -- covered second base on Jace Peterson's steal in the third inning. So Peterson advanced to third as d'Arnaud's throw went into center field on what was scored an E-2.

          An inning later, Juan Lagares tried to barehand Andrelton Simmons' single into center field. The baseball scooted by Lagares, allowing Simmons to advance to second base. Simmons ultimately scored an unearned run on Peterson's sacrifice fly to give the Braves a 4-2 lead.

          What's next: Matt Harvey (7-4, 3.32 ERA) opposes right-hander Julio Teheran (4-3, 5.07) at 5:05 p.m. ET Sunday as the Mets try to avoid getting swept. Harvey tossed seven scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his most recent start.