ATLANTA-. Los Atlanta Braves They bounced back from a surprise loss in the first game of the make-up doubleheader and clinched their final playoff berth with a 3-0 win on Monday against the Mets. Los Braves They crowned a day in which New York also confirmed that it will go to the postseason by winning the first game 8-7.
With three teams still in contention for two playoff berths in the National League, the Braves faced the Mets in a doubleheader inserted in the run-up to the postseason wild card series.
The Arizona Rattlers, defending National League champions, were mere distant spectators and were eliminated from contention after their NL East rivals had to postpone their games last week due to Hurricane Helene that has destroyed the southeastern United States.
Arizona needed one of the teams to sweep the series and hoped that the Mets could help them punch their ticket by overcoming a deficit of 3-0 in the eighth and 7-6 in the ninth in the first game.
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Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets bats in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, September 30, 2024, in Atlanta.
AP/Jason Allen
Grant Holmes, who took over for Braves ace Chris Sale, who was ruled out with back spasms, pitched four scoreless innings in Game 2 and Marcell Ozuna gave the Braves some respite with a two-run single. in the seventh.
Both clubhouses at Truist Park erupted with a champagne celebration.
With their postseason berth assured, the Mets added left-hander Joey Luchesi to their lineup for Game 2. The 31-year-old left-hander who spent most of the season with Triple-A Syracuse allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his first major league appearance before Monday.
He had a very different performance against the Braves, who were still shocked after the loss in the first game. Lucchesi (0-2) allowed three hits, including a run-scoring single to Gio Urshela in the sixth.
Cuban Daybel Hernández (3-0) took the victory and his compatriot Rausel Iglesias got his 34th save in 37 opportunities.
In the first game, New York took the lead with a six-run burst in the eighth, the highlight of which was a two-run home run by Brandon Nimmo. The Braves responded with four runs in the bottom half, with Ozzie Albies emptying the bases with a double off closer Edwin Díaz for a 7-6 lead.
The Mets did not throw in the towel. Starling Marte had a one-out single off Pierce Johnson (7-5) and Puerto Rican Lindor responded with his 33rd home run, a hit that fell into the Braves bullpen in right-center field.
“I saw the pitch I was looking for and you never know if the ball is going or not,” Lindor said. “But I felt like I was able to hit it completely and I just said to myself: ‘Thank you Jesus.’ We are one step closer, now we have to Finish it, finish it, finish it, finish it.”
Díaz (6-4) won after throwing 40 pitches — his most of the year — despite allowing Albies to hit, after the Puerto Rican closer failed to cover first base in a play that allowed Jarred Kelenic to reach base with an infield single with two outs.
FUENTE: AP
