The Sports Xchange
Sep 16, 2017
ATLANTA -- Jacob deGrom allowed one run over seven innings and won his career-best 15th game as the New York Mets snapped a five-game losing streak, beating the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Saturday at SunTrust Park.
DeGrom (15-9) gave up five hits, two walks and struck out seven to secure his first win since Aug. 25. His only hiccup was a solo homer to Freddie Freeman, his 27th, who had two of Atlanta's hits.
Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but A.J. Ramos allowed two runs in the ninth. Ramos, who had not pitched since Sept. 8, walked two batters and pinch-hitter Lane Adams drove them both home with a single.
The Mets strung together 11 hits and handed Atlanta starter R.A. Dickey (9-10) his first career loss against his former team. The Mets scored their most runs since Sept. 7 when they beat the Reds 7-2.
The New York offense was led by Gavin Cecchini, who had two RBIs and was 3-for-4 for his first multi-hit game of the season. Nori Aoki was 2-for-5 with two doubles and Dominic Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
The Mets grabbed more insurance with two more runs in the seventh. Brown doubled home Aoki and Brandon Nimmo, but was easily thrown out trying to advance to third base.
The Mets scored twice in the second inning after Juan Lagares and Cecchini delivered RBI singles. But the rally was short-circuited when deGrom missed the bunt on a squeeze play and Lagares was easily retired in a rundown. DeGrom then popped out to end the threat.
New York added two more runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead on three consecutive doubles from Aoki, Nimmo and Asdrubal Cabrera.
The Mets scored again in the fourth when Lagares walked and scored on Cecchini's RBI double.
Dickey was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. He worked five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks. He failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season.
NOTES: Atlanta LF Matt Kemp did not start because of a strained hamstring suffered on Friday night. Jace Peterson started in his place. ... New York RHP Noah Syndergaard will not return until at least next week. He made a rehab start on Thursday and was reassessed on Saturday, with team officials saying he needed to face more live pitching. He could be game-ready later next week. ... New York RF Nori Aoki doubled in the third inning and has reached base in 17 consecutive games. ... New York 2B Gavin Cecchini has hit safely in 11 of his 15 starts.