Braves 3-0 Mets (September 30, 2024) Game Recap

ATLANTA – – A final day that wasn’t on the schedule and won’t soon be forgotten.

An unlikely comeback by the New York Mets in the opening game of a makeup doubleheader to secure their spot in the playoffs. A tough recovery for the Atlanta Braves in the nightcap, who also punched their postseason ticket.

And all the Arizona Diamondbacks could do was watch hopelessly from the desert after their hopes were dashed by two games on the other side of the country.

“They're just focused on getting to the postseason,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said, doused in champagne as he celebrated a 3-0 win in the final game of the regular season. “Whatever it took. If we had to play four games today, we would have done it.”

The regular season featured extra innings after the Mets and Braves had two games rained out last week because of Hurricane Helene. They controlled their own destiny, each holding a decisive lead over the reigning NL champion Diamondbacks.

Arizona needed a team to win, so they pulled away for the Mets after overcoming deficits of 3-0 in the eighth inning and 7-6 in the ninth to win the opener 8-7 and thanks to Francisco Lindor's two- Inning to take the lead for good. run Homer.

“An instant classic game,” said Brandon Nimmo, whose two-run home run capped a six-run eighth.

To their credit, the Braves bounced back and got the win they had to have. Even after star Chris Sale was injured with back spasms, journeyman Grant Holmes stepped in to lead off a three-hitter spread among six pitchers.

At the end, to top off a crazy day, there was a champagne splash celebration at both clubhouses at Truist Park.

Atlanta, New York and Arizona all finished 89-73.

Holmes found out about half an hour before the first pitch that he would be starting.

“I was just going to get something to eat,” said the 28-year-old Holmes, who finally made it to the big leagues this year after a decade in the minor leagues. “They came up to me and said, 'Hey, you're starting this today.' And I thought, 'Oh, okay, here we go.'”

With their spot locked up for the postseason, the Mets added left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the roster to start the second game. The 31-year-old left-hander spent most of the season at Triple-A Syracuse and gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his only big league appearance before Monday.

He looked like an ace against the Braves, who were perhaps still a bit shell-shocked after losing the opener. Lucchesi (0-2) allowed just three hits in a game spanning six innings and 111 pitches, including a run-scoring single to Gio Urshela.

But Marcell Ozuna gave the Braves some breathing room with a two-run single in the seventh. Daysbel Hernandez (3-0) secured the win and Raisel Iglesias completed the victory with his 34th save in 37 chances.

The Braves also got a scoreless inning from starter Reynaldo López, who had thrown six innings just two days earlier.

“I’m so proud of all these guys,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It takes the whole building to make something like this possible.”

After Lindor's 33rd home run, the Mets were already in party mode.

After trailing 3-0 with just three singles in seven innings against rookie Spencer Schwanzenbach, New York's offense came to life in the eighth.

The Mets stormed ahead with their six-run outburst. The Braves stormed back with four runs in the bottom half when Ozzie Albies delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs for a 7-6 lead – giving him five RBI in the game after a two-run home run in the third half.

But New York delivered the final blow with Lindor's drive into the Braves bullpen off Pierce Johnson (7-5).

“That was one of the craziest games I’ve ever been a part of,” said Carlos Mendoza, the Mets’ rookie manager. “Just the significance of it. Coming back into the game and then losing the lead and then coming back in the ninth. It was incredible, like writing a book.”

Edwin Díaz (6-4) secured the win with a season-high 40 pitches despite giving up Albies' go-ahead run, which came after the Mets were closer to covering first, allowing Jarred Kelenic to hit a two-out To achieve points hits. Out infield hit.

Díaz demanded to return to the mound for the ninth time.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m going back out,” he told Mendoza.

New York had lost 77 consecutive games by three runs in the eighth inning or later since May 17, 2023. After that streak ended, Díaz threw down his glove and the Mets celebrated their 11th postseason berth in 63 seasons, the last in 2022.

“I’ve never seen a game like this,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said.

Or something like that last day.

SALES STATUS

Atlanta had held Sale back because his scheduled start last week was rained out, saying they wanted to use him in an elimination game.

But the left-hander couldn't throw because of back spasms, which Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said only surfaced after a throwing session on Sunday, but Snitker acknowledged had been a problem for some time.

“He had it off and on all year,” Snitker said. “Everyone in this room is in pain this time of year.”

Trade has been ruled out for the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, but the Braves hope he can return if they advance to the Division Series.

NEXT

Mets: Head back to Milwaukee, where they just played a weekend series, for a best-of-three wild-card series that begins Tuesday. The Brewers won five of six meetings during the regular season.

Braves: We were on our way to the airport for the four-hour flight to San Diego, where their Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday. The Padres led the season series 4-3.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb