Atlanta Braves outclass New York Mets 7-5 as Craig Kimbrel registers save - MLB Update
Relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel records his 26th save of the season as he helps the Atlanta Braves survive in the last inning and beat the New York Mets 7-5 at Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia in the first game of the three match series on July 13,
2012.
New York put up solid resistance after trailing by five runs. Adding four runs in the top of the fourth, they bridged the deficit to one run.
From there onward, it looked that the Mets will build on their fourth-inning run rampage and go past the Braves' lead within few innings.
However, it was not to be as Atlanta reacted quickly and substantiated their lead with two runs in the sixth.
By the time Atlanta’s lead was threatened, they needed someone like Chipper Jones to stand up and slam a home-run.
Jones accepted the challenge and struck a homer in the sixth, taking the Braves to a secure position with regard to a protection of the lead. Jones was 2-for-4 in the game.
Similarly, catcher David Ross was another player who did bulk of the production for Braves on Friday. Contributing four RBIs, he struck one hit in two at-bats.
Furthermore, Tim Hudson came to start for Atlanta on Friday. He threw four innings and gave up four runs. Realising that he was leaking runs, the manager scratched him from the mound and brought Cristhian Martinez.
Martinez rightly protected the lead and did not allow New York to score more runs. Similarly, the relief pitcher Kimbrel was perfect in the last inning as he struck-out three.
As far as the Mets' pitchers were concerned, starter Chris Young was unimpressive on the mound.
He was not allowed to throw more than three innings, because he leaked five runs and gave up six hits. In-fact, the runs that he cost became the greatest reason behind the Mets’ defeat.
Mets’ manager Terry Collins seconds this and says whenever a starter struggles, they are more likely to lose the game.
"A little frustrating," Collins said. "Eleven bases on balls, 21 baserunners, you're not going to win many games. We've said it many, many times: When we pitch, we have a chance to win. And when we don't pitch it's tough for us, because we don't have a lot
of power."
Still two games remain in the series, therefore, the Mets will be looking to win the next two matches and clinch the series victory.
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