CARRASCO AIDS METS IN SWEEP OF BRAVES

Mets manager Buck Showalter saved veteran starter Carlos Carrasco for the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Braves, hoping the 35-yearold could adjust his game plan to pitch more innings if Game 1 taxed New York’s bullpen.

Mets 5-3, Braves 4-0

Everything seems to be working out as hoped for the first-place Mets.

Carrasco dodged trouble for eight innings, Pete Alonso homered against Kyle Wright on an off night for Atlanta’s breakout righthander and New York beat the Braves 3-0 Tuesday night to complete a doubleheader sweep.

Alonso had two RBI singles in the opener as the Mets pounced early against Charlie Morton, and New York’s bullpen closed out a five-hitter to beat the Braves 5-4. Alonso had two hits in each game.

Carrasco (2-1) stranded seven runners with some masterful work out of the stretch, keeping Atlanta off the board despite six hits and two walks. He threw 96 pitches and struck out five, bouncing back after allowing eight runs in his previous start against St. Louis.

“It’s a reminder of how good a pitcher he is,” Showalter said. “That’s a tough lineup to go through.”

Carrasco became the first Mets pitcher to finish eight innings this season. He helped New York pitch its major league-leading sixth shutout in 26 games this year.

Dominic Smith hit a tworun double against Wright (3-1) in the first, building off a four-hit game Sunday that may have preserved his spot when rosters shrunk from 28 to 26 on Monday.

Alonso went the other way for a solo drive in the sixth, his fifth homer.

A first-round pick in 2017, Wright came into Tuesday appearing to have finally corralled his immense talent with a 1.13 ERA through four starts.

“The key is just making him come in the zone,” Alonso said, “because he has a lot of stuff that looks like a strike, and he does a really good job living on the edges.”

Notable

The Nationals reinstated

Dee Strange-Gordon after the INF/OF completed a weeklong rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Rochester.

Washington optioned INF Lucius Fox to Rochester and transferred RHP

Anibal Sanchez to the 60day injured list.

Twins INF Miguel Sano will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. The procedure will take place later this week, and manager Rocco Baldelli says there is no timetable for his return.

The Reds put 1B Joey Votto on the COVID-19 injured list. Manager David Bell said Votto hasn’t tested positive for the virus.