New York Mets pound Atlanta Braves 7-5 for their third regular season victory - MLB Update
Starter Jonathon Niese helps New York Mets continue their dream regular season start as he strikes-out seven, playing a major role in 7-5 win against Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on April 8, 2012.
His incredible performance will go to cool down critics who took him on after he was awarded five year contract extension worth $25.5 million. Exhibiting what he can do in the games ahead, Niese stood for six innings. He gave up three earned runs and two
hits.
However his great show in the game cannot mask four walks he gave and the fact his ERA that stood 4.50 after the game just complies with his career ERA of 4.39, in real terms hardly it was an improvement.
As unexpected as they have been so far with three consecutive wins, Mets’ manager Terry Collins reposes confidence in his players and exhorts them for consistency.
Making them aware of the fans' expectations, he is communicating to them the plan he had made during Spring Training.
"This means everything," Collins said. "We've done a lot of talking in spring training about getting ready to compete, getting ready to prepare to compete. I told those guys in our first meeting: 'You're professional baseball players, and there are expectations
in this town and in this clubhouse.’”
Misery for the Braves appears perennial as they recorded their third loss.
Going with high hopes on their starter, Mike Minor, who saw them several scoreless innings in Spring Training, Braves witnessed six runs coming off him in five innings.
Perhaps he was swept away by the Big League pressure. Because the scoreless 14 innings he threw at the start of Spring Training and today’s performance are worlds apart and leave no conclusion other than this.
Braves will expect the home-run struck by their catcher Brian McCann to be a stepping stone to plenty of those emerging out of him in the upcoming games.
Mets’ shortstop Ruben Tejada largely lifted their offence. In five at-bats, he struck four hits and completed two runs as he added two RBIs. Second baseman Daniel Murphy’s contribution was no less significant as he added one run, two hits and two RBIs.
Braves will be looking to find their injured starter Tim Hudson back to Big League at the earliest where as the Mets will intend to build on the momentum they have carried so far in the season.
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