Atlanta Even though the Mets’ victory over the fourth-place team in the NL East is not enough to prove that they are a fixed team, the fact that it took place in Atlanta does say something.
The Mets crushed four home runs in a 9-2 victory over the Braves on Saturday night at Truist Park, including three in the seventh inning to extend a one-run advantage to five runs. Clay Holmes completed his first quality start since June 7. Mark Vientos, Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and Starling Marte all hit home runs. McNeil’s three-run blast in the third gave the Mets a lead they would never give up after Vientos and McNeil both hit two.
At last, the Mets (69-60) managed to gain some victories by exploiting a team that was eliminated from the race. Even more of a statement was made by doing so while traveling to a venue where they have a history of playing poorly.
“We’re not missing pitches and we’re swinging the bat well,” McNeil stated. We’re driving the ball and putting together strong at-bats, and we have some solid plans up there.
The Mets led 3-0 early in the third inning thanks to a three-run blast from McNeil with two outs. On the first pitch he saw from right-hander Cal Quantrill (0-1), the second baseman teed off, sending the ball 420 feet into the right field stands. After taking the last two days off due to an injured right shoulder, he hit the second-longest home run of his career.
Holmes had some breathing room after the 2022 NL batting champion hit his 11th home run of the season.
“Just a huge swing,” Holmes remarked. put us up, which allowed me to be more effective and have some leeway. That swing was most likely the night’s highlight from that perspective. That swing was enormous.
After about 80 innings, Holmes appeared to hit a wall, although throwing significantly more innings than he had in any other year in his career. At the trade deadline, the Mets reaffirmed their belief in the converted reliever, but he didn’t immediately pay them back. He failed to even finish four innings in his most recent game against the Braves (58-71).
Holmes was able to work into the seventh this time by using all of his pitches and relying less on his sinker. After giving up consecutive walks, he gave up two in the top of the fourth, but stranded the tying run on second. Drake Baldwin hit a single, forcing the Mets to use the bullpen after the right-hander retired eight consecutive.
“I feel like I’m using my entire arsenal and covering different parts of the zone when I’m at my best,” Holmes said. When I’m at my best, I can mix and match different pitches and use my entire arsenal, but the sinker is good and it’s easy to kind of rely on it at times. Therefore, it’s not just making me go to one thing or one side of the plate; rather, it’s saying, “Let’s use this, let’s mix it up.” It makes things work much better together.
Holmes, who held the Braves to two earned runs on three hits, walked two, and struck out four in the victory (11-6), had the kind of start the Mets were hoping for. The other eight players are on the field because of the defense’s assistance to him.
Holmes remarked, “I’m going to keep forcing contact here and let the defense work,” after taking a step back. Tonight, the defense performed admirably. Guys were everywhere in the infield when Starling made a huge play out there and Tyrone Taylor, the center fielder, made a fantastic diving catch. They performed incredibly well, and I trusted them.
Against left-hander Dylan Lee, the homer-fest started in the top of the seventh inning.Pete Alonso hit his 29th hit of the season to give the Mets a 5-2 lead after Juan Soto walked to start. Vientos then struck one. After a fantastic game in which the outfielder went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two stolen bases, and a 7-2 double play to get a runner at home, Marte hit one with one out.
Speaking to him later he replied, “Yeah, I was moving my arm around because I wanted it, I was expecting it, before that pitch,” Holmes remarked.
In the top of the ninth, Vientos blasted his second off Austin Cox, a left-hander, and McNeil then hit another.
“Don’t count the Mets out just yet,” the statement reads. They are now 2.5 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in third place in the NL Wild Card rankings and second in the NL East behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
The mindset is that we have an opportunity to sweep these guys tomorrow, manager Carlos Mendoza stated. It’s nice to be here, especially after a few hard defeats in Washington, DC, and to recover and perform well over the last two nights.
