Dillon Gee had been missing in action for close to two months before his start Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves, but the way he performed almost could make people believe he hadn't missed a beat. Gee pitched seven strong innings, giving up only one run on six hits and was backed by a Travis d'Arnaud two-run home run in the 7th inning as the Mets defeated Atlanta 4-1.
For the third time in three nights the Mets jumped out on Braves early taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Tonight, it was on a Lucas Duda RBI single that plated the All-Star Daniel Murphy.
Wasn’t much insurance for Dillon Gee but he proved that it was more than enough. Gee held the Braves scoreless until the top of the 6th inning where a two out single by Ervin Santana and then a double by B.J. Upton tied the game at 1-1. Upton was thrown out on the play trying to advance to third base.
Mets' manager Terry Collins left Gee in the game to pitch the 7th inning and with runners on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out, Dillon struck out Jason Heyward looking and got Chris Johnson to ground out to Ruben Tejada that ended the inning.
David Wright led off the bottom of the 7th with a hustle double after he caught Justin Upton lazily fielding his ground ball in left field. Lucas Duda moved Wright over to third base on a fly ball out to right field and after a Bobby Abreu walk, Kirk Nieuwenhuis took a first pitch fastball from Santana for a sacrifice fly as New York regained the lead 2-1.
The next batter, Travis d'Arnaud, padded the lead and secured the win for New York as he hit a hanging breaking ball from Santana into the left field bleachers for a two-run home run.
With the Mets now leading 4-1 Collins opted to allow Gee another inning with his low pitch count. But after a lead off single to Tommy La Stella and a bunt single to Gerald Laird, Gee's night was over as Vic Black came in relief for New York.
With runners on 1st and 3rd and only one out in the inning, Black crawled himself out of the jam by striking out B.J. Upton and getting Andrelton Simmons to fly out to left field.
Going into the 9th inning with the Mets still leading 4-1, Jenrry Mejia took the mound to close out the game. After striking out Freddie Freeman to start off the 9th, Mejia allowed a single to both Justin Upton and Jason Heyward that brought the tying run to the plate.
It was too little, too late for Atlanta as Mejia got Chris Johnson to pop out to Lucas Duda in foul territory at first base and then struck out Tommy La Stella to end the game. The Atlanta Braves finished the night 0-7 with runners in scoring position.
This is the first time in 361 days that the New York Mets find themselves skating on a four game win streak.
They look to continue that streak tomorrow night as they close out the series with the Braves. Bartolo Colon (8-7 4.04 ERA) will take the mound for Mets as Aaron Harang (8-6 3.67 ERA) takes the hill for Atlanta.