| | ATLANTA -- Once again, the Atlanta Braves dealt the New York
Mets a dose of reality.
The Braves beat the Mets five of six games down the stretch, sending the Mets into a seven-game tailspin and nearly knocking out them of the playoffs.
|
CAN'T HIT AGAINST THE BRAVES
|
|
New York has scored three runs or less in 10 of 13 games this season against Atlanta (and lost of 10 of 13 as well): |
|
Date
|
Runs
|
AB
|
H
|
Avg.
|
|
6/25
|
10
|
37
|
13
|
.351
|
|
6/26
|
2
|
34
|
7
|
.206
|
|
6/27
|
0
|
28
|
3
|
.107
|
|
7/2
|
0
|
30
|
3
|
.100
|
|
7/3
|
0
|
28
|
3
|
.107
|
|
7/4
|
7
|
31
|
11
|
.355
|
|
9/21
|
1
|
31
|
6
|
.194
|
|
9/22
|
2
|
32
|
8
|
.250
|
|
9/23
|
3
|
35
|
7
|
.200
|
|
9/28
|
3
|
36
|
9
|
.250
|
|
9/29
|
9
|
38
|
13
|
.342
|
|
9/30
|
3
|
38
|
6
|
.158
|
|
10/12
|
2
|
33
|
6
|
.182
|
|
Total
|
42
|
404
|
95
|
.235
|
"I don't see any down faces in here," Todd Pratt said Tuesday
night after Atlanta won the opener of the NL Championship Series
4-2 behind Greg Maddux. "We lost the first game. It's not a big deal. There are still
six games to play. Our job is to win four of them."
The Mets appear to be caught in a pattern that is repeating
itself. They came to Turner Field on Sept. 21 one game behind
Atlanta and full of confidence that they could finally dethrone the
Braves in the NL East.
Instead, New York was swept in the three-game series and had to
scramble to even make the postseason by winning a one-game playoff
with Cincinnati for the wild card.
After beating Arizona 3-1 in the first round, the Mets once
again felt like the team that had the best record in the majors at one point this season.
And they insisted that this trip to Atlanta would be different.
After one game, it's just more of the same.
"We lost to these guys before. We're just going to keep coming
back," third baseman Robin Ventura said. "Hopefully, we'll find
some answers. We need to score some runs to help out our pitching
staff."
They sure haven't found the answer to Atlanta's pitching. New
York has been held to three or fewer runs 10 times in 13 games with
Atlanta this year and lost 19 of 25 over the last two seasons.
Atlanta has won 14 of 15 against the Mets at Turner Field.
"There's no way to explain it," Atlanta outfielder Brian
Jordan said. "This is a different season when you get into the
playoffs. Believe me, they're not going to roll over."
Even the return of Mike Piazza to the lineup couldn't change the
Mets' fortunes. Playing with a slightly swollen left thumb that
kept him out of the final two games against the Diamondbacks,
Piazza went 0-for-4 and drove in New York's first run with an RBI
groundout in the fourth inning. He also allowed three stolen bases.
"If I didn't think I could do things to help this team, I
wouldn't be out there," Piazza said. "I still feel it, but I've
played with the injury before. It's not disabling."
Starter Masato Yoshii put New York in a 1-0 hole in the first
inning, allowing the first three runners to reach. Yoshii settled
down and kept the Mets in the game after that, but New York could
never take the lead.
Yoshii's failure to get down a squeeze bunt cost the Mets in the
third inning. With Roger Cedeno on third and one out, manager Bobby
Valentine called for the squeeze on a 2-0 count.
Maddux's pitch was off the plate outside, and Yoshii bunted
through it. Cedeno was caught between third and home and the Mets'
rally was thwarted.
"I felt confident and comfortable to execute the play," said
Yoshii, who eventually grounded out and slammed his bat down after
returning to the dugout. "I was too careful with my stance and
form and as a consequence, I missed the ball."
| |
ALSO SEE
Mets vs. Braves series page
Vintage Maddux shuts down Mets in Game 1
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