The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Alonso helps Mets top Braves in DH opener
NEW YORK — Pete Alonso had two RBI singles as the Mets pounced early against Charlie Morton, and New York’s bullpen closed out a five-hitter to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 Tuesday in the opener of a doubleheader.
Four of the Mets’ first five batters reached against Morton, with the Mets taking a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Alonso and Eduardo Escobar. Alonso added another run-scoring single during New York’s two-run second inning. Morton (1-3) had 56 pitches through two innings but rebounded to cover 5
2⁄3 on 99 pitches, allowing five runs — four earned — on six hits. The 38-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA this season to 6.85.
Matt Olson hit a threerun homer in the fifth against starter David Peterson, his third of the season, to pull Atlanta within 5-4. The drive came one pitch after Peterson made his first career error when he whiffed on Ozzie Albies’ potential double-play grounder.
Peterson (1-0) stumbled during a three-run fifth but was otherwise sharp after being recalled Tuesday from Triple-A. The lefthander was charged with four runs — three earned — and four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
Adam Ottavino struck out two in a perfect sixth and Drew Smith turned in two hitless innings to deliver a one-run lead to closer Edwin Diaz.
Diaz struck out two and worked around a single in the ninth for his fifth save.
Travis Jankowski had two hits, a walk and scored three runs from the leadoff spot for New York. He reached on a fielder’s choice
in the fourth, stole second, took third on an overthrow and scored on Mark Canha’s sacrifice fly.
The Braves appeared to benefit from an umpiring blunder in the second. Adam Duvall advanced to third on Dansby Swanson’s double down the left-field line, then scored a batter later on Travis Demeritte’s sacrifice fly. Replays showed Swanson’s hard grounder bounced just outside the third-base bag, but it was not reviewable because third base umpire Chad Fairchild made the judgment call with the play in front of him.
Fairchild was behind the plate Monday, when he acknowledged to Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt that he missed a strike call in the fifth inning.
New York right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.5) is set to start the second game against Atlanta right-hander Kyle Wright (3-0, 1.13), who has 34 strikeouts and six walks over 24 innings this season and has yet to allow a homer.
YOAN’S DILEMMA
Mets manager Buck Showalter returned from a one-game ban after reliever Yoan Lopez threw several pitches inside in the ninth inning Sunday against Philadelphia. Major League Baseball also suspended Lopez three games after determining the pitches were attempted retaliation for a plunked New York batter.
Lopez was optioned to Triple-A on Monday, hours before being punished by MLB, and he can’t begin serving his suspension until he’s recalled. The dilemma: the Mets are unlikely to call up a pitcher whose roster spot would immediately be lost to a ban, possibly leaving Lopez stuck in Triple-A.
“How to you call up a pitcher who can’t pitch?” Showalter asked Tuesday.
Lopez has appealed the suspension, the players’ union confirmed. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor — who helped pay Lopez’s fine last week following a similar incident against St. Louis that led to a benchesclearing melee — said he planned to speak with the union about Lopez’s plight. Lindor is on the union’s executive subcommittee.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: RHP William Woods was called up as the team’s 27th man for the doubleheader.
Mets: RHP Trevor May was placed on the 15-day injured list with right triceps inflammation. RHP Adonis Medina was recalled from Triple-A.
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Ian Anderson (2-1, 4.66) faces Mets RHP Tylor Megill (4-0, 1.93) in the finale of the fourgame series Wednesday.