Braves 3, Mets 1
By Stan Awtrey, The Sports Xchange
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves sent Evan Gattis to the minor leagues last weekend to get him the additional at-bats needed to restore his timing. It looks like the move worked.
Gattis was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, then went 3-for-3 and hit a game-tying solo home run in the seventh inning to spark a three-run outburst and help the Braves beat the New York Mets 3-1.
Tuesday's win trimmed Atlanta's magic number in the NL East to 10 games.
The Braves trailed 1-0 in the seventh and had trouble solving New York starter Carlos Torres (3-3), who did not allow a runner past second base through the first six innings. But after striking out Chris Johnson, Torres surrendered a line-drive homer to Gattis, his 16th of the year and first since July 24, that tied the game. Dan Uggla worked a walk and Andrelton Simmons followed with his 13thhome run to put the Braves ahead to stay.
Atlanta starter Kris Medlen (12-12) allowed only one run in seven innings. He scattered seven hits and struck out nine. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two, for his league-leading 44th save, the 34th consecutive time he's converted a save opportunity.
The Mets got their only run in the sixth inning. With one out, Eric Young Jr. tripled off the left-field wall and scored on Daniel Murphy's double to right. That was not enough support for Torres, who gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out six over seven innings, his longest appearance of the year.
There were few scoring opportunities through the first five innings.
Young singled on the first pitch of the game and advanced to third on back-to-back infield outs. But he stayed there when Lucas Duda struck out.
Duda had a two-out double in the fourth inning, but failed to advance when Travis d'Arnaud struck out.
The Braves had their best chance in the second inning. Gattis got a one-out single and went to second on a wild pitch, but he was stranded there when Uggla struck out and Simmons flew out to right.
NOTES: The Braves sent minor-league catcher Matt Pagnozzi to Houston for cash. Pagnozzi hit .201 with six homers in 90 games at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2013. ... Atlanta recalled C/OF Gattis from Triple-A Gwinnett. He was sent to Gwinnett on Saturday and went 6-for-13 with three doubles and a home run in three games. ... The Mets recalled LHP Robert Carson and RHP Greg Burke from Triple-A Las Vegas.