By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
After long rain delay, Atlanta Braves fall to Mets 6-3
Placeholder Image

Curtis Granderson homered twice, including a grand slam, to drive in five runs and Matt Harvey got his first win of the season as the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Friday night.

Granderson’s sixth career grand slam was a line-drive shot he pulled into the right-field seats off Bud Norris (1-3) in the second inning. Granderson had three hits, including another homer off Norris in the fourth, giving him four on the season.

New York has 21 homers in its last seven games — the most in a seven-game span in franchise history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Harvey (1-3) ended a streak of four straight losing decisions, including his first three starts this year. He needed 101 pitches to make it through five innings as he allowed two runs and seven hits and one walk.

Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

The Braves have not hit a homer in their last 11 games, their longest drought since going 13 games without a homer in May 1983. Atlanta is last in the majors with only three homers and has no player with more than one.

The Mets have won six of eight. The Braves, who lost nine straight to open the season, have a new three-game losing streak.

Harvey gave up a walk and two hits in the fifth but got out of the inning when center fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out Nick Markakis at the plate. Markakis tried to score from second on A.J. Pierzynski’s third single. Pierzynski has 1,999 career hits.

Adonis Garcia also had three hits for Atlanta, including a run-scoring single off Antonio Bastardo in the seventh.

Cespedes had a run-scoring double off Casey Kelly in the seventh.

Harvey gave up two runs on four hits in the second inning. Kelly Johnson had a run-scoring single and Mallex Smith’s double drove in a run.

Norris lasted only four innings, give up five runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks.

Home-plate umpire Jeff Kellogg left the game between the first and second innings after being hit by a foul tip. He walked off the field after being examined by Braves assistant trainer Jim Lovell. There was no immediate report on Kellogg’s apparent injury.

The game was delayed by rain and lightning for 56 minutes in the eighth inning.

FAMILY DEATH
Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen left the team following his mother’s death. Bullpen coach Ricky Bones took Warthen’s spot in the dugout and visited Harvey on the mound in the fifth inning.

Friends to Follow social media