Davis Comes Through In Clutch as Mets Drop Braves

Al Bello/Getty Images

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, May 26^th, 2013

Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets

Final Score: Braves: 2 Mets: 4

The Mets were able to stave off their second consecutive sweep and end their five-game losing streak with a win on Sunday Night Baseball against the rival Braves with a 4-2 victory.

It was a night of retributions for the Mets, as the biggest players in the game, Shaun Marcum and Ike Davis, came through huge for the Mets after struggling so far throughout the season.

Davis, who many people feel should be on his way to Las Vegas to play for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, put some of those qualms to sleep Sunday night.  Davis looks to maybe be coming out of his season long slump after going 2-3 from the plate with two RBI and one walk.

The two RBI were as big as any Davis has had this season, as they gave the Mets the lead in the eighth inning off Braves reliever Cory Gearrin with the bases loaded.  The eighth inning rally was started by Justin Turner, who led off with a single that was followed up by a Lucas Duda double to get two men into scoring position. John Buck followed with his team high 33^rd RBI of the season with a double, scoring Turner. Mike Baxter was then hit by a pitch after pinch-hitting for Marlon Byrd before Davis provided the heroics for the Mets, driving in the game winning runs.

Duda had a strong night at the plate in addition to his double, adding a fourth inning home run off Braves’ starter Julio Teheran, his ninth of the season, which gave the Mets an early lead.  Duda finished the game 3-4, scoring two runs and having one RBI as he extended his hitting streak to 10-games after going through a rough patch that he had only four hits in a 15 day span.

The Mets lost the lead in the seventh inning after Dan Uggla launched his 10^th homerun of the season off starting pitcher Shaun Marcum.  It was the 100^th pitch of the night for Marcum that Uggla planted in the stands.  That was the only blemish of the night for Marcum though, who had quite possibly his best start in his short Mets tenure, striking out a career high 12 Braves’ en route to a no-decision. 

Marcum’s final stat line was seven innings pitched, four hits, two runs (both earned), 12 strikeouts, one hit by pitch and 108 pitches thrown.  This was the type of start the Mets have desperately been looking for from anyone not named Matt Harvey and hopefully Marcum is turning the corner as this season is no correlation to his career numbers.

Bobby Parnell was able to come in and pitch a clean ninth inning, including two strikeouts, for his seventh save of the season. LaTroy Hawkins bounced back with a scoreless eighth inning as well after blowing a lead in Friday night’s game, a welcome surprise to Mets fans who have come accustomed to their team blowing any lead they build.

Next up for the Mets is the Subway Series against the Yankees, starting Monday night for two games at Citi Field before moving to Yankee Stadium for the last two games of the series.  Jon Niese will take the hill for the Mets and be opposed by Phil Hughes of the Yankees.