Mike Minor
photo by Tim Evearitt
NEW YORK -- Those who were wondering if the start of this season could get any worse for the Braves nearly received the answer they were not seeking on Sunday afternoon, when Mets left-hander Jon Niese flirted with a no-hitter and extended the struggles of a slumbering offense.
Though Niese fell short on his historic bid at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon, his early dominance, combined with Mike Minor's middle-inning misfortunes, gave the Mets a 7-5 win and left the Braves winless through the first three games of the season for the first time since 2003.
Before ending Niese's no-hit bid in a four-run seventh inning, the Braves had totaled two runs in 24 innings. These Opening Weekend struggles extended the frustrations the club felt last year when it lost its final five regular-season games and the 8 1/2-game Wild Card lead it carried into September.
Niese had retired 15 consecutive batters before walking Dan Uggla to open the seventh. Freddie Freeman directed the next pitch he saw through the right side of the infield to ensure the Mets would have to wait at least one more day to celebrate the first no-hitter in franchise history.
When Lucas Duda lost a routine fly ball in the sun along the right-field warning track and Jason Heyward followed with a two-run double, the Braves actually found themselves with some hope. McCann made things even more interesting when he homered off Manny Acosta in the eighth to make it 7-5.
But the combination of the four-run seventh and McCann's first homer of the year was not enough to erase the seven-run cushion the Mets had provided Niese through six innings.
Ruben Tejada's leadoff double helped the Mets gain a one-run first-inning lead and Jason Bay extended the advantage with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth. But the Braves were trailing just 2-0 in the fifth when Niese produced a two-out check-swing single that nicked the chalk behind third base.
Tejada, who finished with a career-high four hits, followed with a soft single before Murphy produced a check-swing opposite-field double that hit the left-field line and scored two runs to give the Mets a 4-0 lead.
Minor exited after the bottom of the sixth began with a walk to Bay and a single by Duda. Tejada then hit Cristhian Martinez's second pitch of the day to left field for what proved to be a decisive two-run double.
The Braves have lost eight consecutive games dating back to Sept. 24, when they entered the day with their magic number to eliminate the Cardinals from the Wild Card race resting at three.
The Cardinals have spent the early portion of this season playing like reigning World Series champions. Meanwhile, the Braves have played much like they did during last year's forgettable September.
Tim Hudson enjoyed three pain-free innings while pitching for Class A Rome against Charleston on Saturday night. The 36-year-old right-hander is aiming to rejoin the Braves' rotation during the series against the Pirates at the end of the month.
Hudson allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in three innings. Two of the four hits he surrendered were infield singles recorded by Dante Bichette Jr.
The Braves move on to Houston to open a three-game set with the Astros before returning to Atlanta for their home opener.
- - - - - - Source: MLB.com