METS CAN’T LOSE
Mets rally to top Braves, increase East lead
Beat Braves for 81st win, ending losing ways: Pages win, 60-63
ATLANTA — Kelly Johnson knew what was on the line. With a runner on second in a tie game in the ninth, everyone in the Mets dugout knew they had a chance to come back and keep the pressure on in the National League East race.
In those situations, Johnson likes to think of himself and the Mets as “ruthless” and “resilient.”
Johnson’s single snapped the tie and Yoenis Cespedes’ RBI fielder’s choice gave the Mets a 6-4, come-from-behind win Saturday over the Braves at Turner Field.
“We have confidence and we have kind of earned it,” Johnson said of the Mets’ 14th comeback win since Aug. 1. “We’ve come back, we haven’t been too beaten down by losing leads. It’s part of the game. We know we are capable of having good at-bats and getting something going.”
The Mets (81-61) won their sixth straight game and pulled a season-high 20 games above .500. With the Nationals losing in Miami, the Mets increased their lead in the National League East to a seasonhigh 9.5 games.
With the Nationals score clearly visible over the left-field seats at Turner Field, the Mets pushed harder as they saw a chance to go another game ahead.
“We’re playing for something big,” Terry Collins said. “Some of the guys have been there before, but a lot in the clubhouse have never been in the playoffs.”
Saturday, Noah Syndergaard was dominating in his first start since Aug. 30, but not rewarded with the win. He allowed one run on two hits in six innings and struck out eight in seven innings. He will be limited to seven innings a start down the stretch to keep him under the 173 mark for the regular season. “I knew there was a bigger picture. I know I am on an innings limit. I felt like I threw seven quality innings and handed it over the bullpen,” Syndergaard said. “I try not to pay too much attention to personal wins and losses. The team got a win and extended their lead in the race.”
The Mets took the lead on David Wright’s single to score Daniel Murphy in the fourth and Wright scored on Williams Perez’s wild pitch.
When Cespedes homered in eighth-inning, it looked like Syndergaard would get his second career win away from Citi Field. But Tyler Clippard, pitching with that three-run lead, gave it all up on a pinch-hit homer to Adonis Garcia.
“He’s tired,” Collins said of Clippard. “That is what I am seeing. I actually think he needs a couple days.”
Johnson said the Mets reaction was “calm” and “confident” after Clippard blew the lead.
Travis d’Arnaud led off with a long double to right and Eric Young Jr., pinch-running for d’Arnaud, scored on Johnson’s single. After the bases were loaded, Cespedes, who homered for the eighth game out of his last 11, scored Johnson with a fielder’s choice. “You are just sort of disappointed, but at the same time, you have got to go win the game. See what you can do,” Johnson said. “Travis set the tone with what probably would have been a homer in every ballpark but a couple. I am just trying to put the ball on the ground and find a hole. Tacking on an extra one never hurts.
“We’ve been pretty resilient and pretty ruthless,” Johnson said. “Both of those traits are huge.”
Johnson has been resilient, ruthless and huge in the Mets’ recent push toward the playoffs. He hit the game-tying, pinch-hit home run against the Nationals Wednesday night, setting up the Mets’ come-from-behind win for the sweep of their division rivals.
While the deal to acquire Cespedes from the Tigers at the trade deadline is seen as the huge turning point for the Mets season, Collins said that getting Johnson and Juan Uribe from the Braves July 24 was a significant point as well.
“When those guys showed up we became a different offensive team because they are professional hitters, not intimidated by situations,” Collins said. “Cespedes was obviously a huge add-on, but those two guys changed the dynamic of the clubhouse and the lineup.”
And they helped make the Mets a little more resilient and ruthless.