The New York Mets losing streak has reached six games after today's 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the first of their double header as Mets pitchers were haunted by four solo home runs.
But unlike many of the previous games, New York's bullpen kept them in the game. D.J. Carrasco started and threw 3 2/3 innings while giving up three earned runs -- two homeruns to Alex Gonzalez and one to Chipper Jones -- and Ryota Igarashi threw one-third of an inning to clean up the fourth. Carrasco, not a starting pitcher by any means, was on a pitch limit (he threw 86) in today's game.
Igarashi (one-third), Pat Misch (two) and Bobby Parnell (two) completed the remainder of the game by allowing just one run on two hits. Misch, recalled today to give the Mets a fresh arm, allowed his run on a homerun to Freddie Freeman.
The Mets couldn't find a way to solve Derek Lowe, managing just five hits in the game against him and two runs. Their lone runs of the game came when Jose Reyes grounded into a fielder's choice and Willie Harris doubled, driving the ball to left center field. The Amazin's had a chance to cut into the 4-2 lead in the seventh inning when they had two guys on, but David Wright popped out to right field. Atlanta's bullpen duo of Johnny Venters and Craig Kimbrel would then shut the door on the Mets in the eighth and ninth inning.
The Mets and Braves will play their next game in about 40 minutes, with Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 10.80 ERA) and Jair Jurrjens, who is making his season debut, on the hill.