Braves hit three homers in third, beat Mets for third straight win
NEW YORK — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a titanic home run, just before Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson also went deep in the third inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 4-2 on Friday night in a matchup of National League East Division rivals.
Atlanta starter Charlie Morton (3-0) pitched seven splendid innings as the teams played through raindrops in a game delayed 55 minutes at the start. Atlanta won its third straight game since getting swept at Dodger Stadium last weekend, with both Monday and Thursday off days for the team this week.
Francisco Lindor homered on Morton’s first pitch in the seventh, one of only three hits off the 40-year-old right-hander. He struck out seven batters and walked one in his fourth consecutive quality start, surpassing 2,000 innings in his Major League Baseball career in the process.
A.J. Minter struck out all three batters in the eighth, and Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias got three outs for his 10th save in 12 chances this season and the 200th save of his MLB career.
After giving up Pete Alonso’s two-out RBI single, Iglesias retired J.D. Martinez on a flyout to center.
Coming off a horrendous outing, Mets starter Jose Quintana (1-4) gave up four runs and six hits in five innings. The veteran left-hander was hammered for eight runs and 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings by the host Tampa Bay Rays a week earlier.
Right after a double play that left the bases empty in the third, Acuña drove a full-count sinker 461 feet to the back of the black batter’s eye incline in straightaway center, beyond the home run apple at Citi Field.
Albies followed with a high fly into the left-field corner, 105 feet shorter than Acuna’s smash but still worth one run. It was Albies’ first homer since March 31 — he missed time with a broken toe — and the second time the Braves have hit back-toback home runs this year.
Quintana then walked Austin Riley before a previously slumping Olson sent a two-run shot to right-center for his fourth home run of the season and first since April 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-game drought was the longest of his MLB career.
Olson led the majors with 54 homers and 139 RBIs last season, and he is one of several big bats who have endured slow starts in Atlanta’s lineup this year.
On the injury front for the Braves, right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson (elbow inflammation) was set to throw off a mound.
“Just feel and touch a little bit,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Everything’s trending good with him.”
There were several developments in that regard for the Mets.
Left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley (elbow) is scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday. Meister is an elbow expert and the Texas Rangers’ head team physician. Asked if Raley could miss the rest of the season, manager Carlos Mendoza said: “It’s too early to tell.”
Right-hander Drew Smith (sore shoulder) will throw another inning Saturday on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. He felt good physically after pitching one inning Wednesday for that team. Smith is eligible to come off the injured list.
And right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) will make another rehab start Sunday for Syracuse. The goal is five innings and 75 to 80 pitches.