The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Braves blank Mets in finale
ATLANTA — Austin Riley drove in two runs with two hits and the Atlanta Braves looked postseason ready in a 5-0 win over Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets in Sunday’s final regular season game for both teams.
Syndergaard (0-1) allowed two runs, including a leadoff homer to Jorge Soler, in his one scheduled inning. It was his second start after returning from Tommy John surgery.
The Mets (77-85) were held to three hits. They suffered one final letdown in their disappointing season as they failed to win the season series against the Braves.
The Braves already had clinched their fourth consecutive NL East title before winning two of three in the weekend to take the season series 10-9. Manager Brian Snitker used his normal lineup.
Braves right-hander Charlie Morton allowed one hit in 22⁄3 scoreless innings. Morton is scheduled to start in Friday’s opener of the NL Division Series at Milwaukee.
Soler lined the homer to left on Syndergaard’s second pitch. With one out, Ozzie Albies doubled and scored on Riley’s single. Riley was thrown out attempting to advance to second on a review after being called safe at second on the field.
Syndergaard pitched one scoreless inning against Miami on Tuesday.
Trevor Williams allowed three runs in five innings for the Mets. Riley hit an RBI double off Williams in Atlanta’s three-run third.