The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2017
ATLANTA -- Robert Gsellman allowed only three hits over seven strong innings and pitched the New York Mets to a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday at SunTrust Park.
Gsellman (7-7) gave up one unearned run and struck out three in his longest stint since May 29. Gsellman pitched ahead in the count most of the game and completed seven innings for the third time this season. He has allowed only one unearned run and six hits his last 13 2/3 innings against the Braves.
Jerry Blevins pitched a scoreless eighth inning, striking out two. A.J. Ramos worked around a single and a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.
New York won two of the three games in the series and improved to 9-6 against Atlanta.
Gsellman allowed only one runner to reach second base -- that on Freddie Freeman's first-inning double -- until the seventh inning. That's when the Braves scored their lone run when New York shortstop Amed Rosario committed errors on back-to-back plays. Jace Peterson drove Johan Camargo home with an infield grounder.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (11-12) allowed two runs in the first inning and nothing afterward. He pitched six innings and gave up three hits, four walks and struck out seven. The loss snapped Teheran's four-game winning streak.
Both New York runs came quickly in the first inning. Nori Aoki walked and scored on Jose Reyes' triple. Teheran walked the bases loaded with one out and got Amed Rosario on a fielder's choice that scored Reyes.
Other than Aoki's triple in the second, a ball that was misplayed by left fielder Jace Peterson, the Mets had little success against Teheran. He retired the last six batters in order, three by strikeout.
Atlanta reliever Sam Freeman pitched a scoreless seventh. Rookie left-hander A.J. Minter got the next four outs, striking out three, but was lifted in favor of Jose Ramirez, who was called on to face a series of right-handed batters.
The move backfired. With the bases empty, the Mets scored three times off Ramirez. Rosario beat out an infield single, stole second and scored when Phil Evans launched the ball over the head of center fielder Ender Inciarte for an RBI double.
Asdrubal Cabrera then smacked a pinch-hit homer to straightaway center field, his 13th, to give the Mets a 5-1 lead. The hit extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
NOTES: New York RF Nori Aoki walked in his first plate appearance and has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games dating to Aug. 20. ... New York rookie Phil Evans got his first big-league start on Sunday. He played third base and went 1-for-4 with his first career RBI. ... Atlanta was without LF Matt Kemp (hamstring) for the second straight game. He remains day to day. Jace Peterson got the start. ... The Braves hosted Latin Heritage Day on Sunday with the club wearing "Los Bravos" uniforms. Popular ex-Braves player Javy Lopez threw out the first pitch. ... The Braves are off on Monday and begin a three-game home series on Tuesday against Washington. The Mets continue their road trip on Monday with a three-game series in Miami.