Long Balls Bite Quintana in Mets’ 4-2 Loss to Braves

A sizable track record of avoiding the long ball during a long career ended in short order.

Jose Quintana had started his career going 1,837 consecutive innings without allowing three home runs in one frame, per the SNY broadcast. That streak ended Friday as Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson took him deep in the third inning and the Atlanta Braves (23-12) beat the Mets, 4-1, at Citi Field.

The 35-year-old left-hander had his second consecutive poor start, giving up four runs on six hits in five innings. He walked two and had three strikeouts during the outing. Against Tampa Bay a week ago, he gave up eight runs (no home runs, by the way) in 2 2/3 innings. The Opening Day starter’s season ERA is up to an ugly 5.44.

Meanwhile, the Mets (18-19) struggled to get much going against Atlanta starter Charlie Morton, who pitched six scoreless innings before Francisco Lindor hit a solo home run in the seventh. Morton went a total of seven innings, giving up one run on three hits. He fanned seven and walked one on the day.

The Mets had a scoring chance in the second inning with runners at the corners and one out, but the threat was eliminated when a Harrison Bader groundout resulted in Pete Alonso being thrown out at home. Brett Baty later struck out to end the inning.

The Mets got a run off of Braves closer Raisel Iglesias in the ninth on an Alonso RBI single with two outs that brought J.D. Martinez to the plate as the tying run. After missing a home run by about 20 feet on a long drive down the left field line, Martinez flew out to center to end the game.

Adrian Houser pitched two scoreless innings in his first relief appearance of the season. He got help from Baty, who made a highlight reel catch on a foul pop up, squeezing it backhanded as he fell over the tarp and holding on as he hit his head against padding on the wall.

The Mets entered tonight having played just three divisional games over their first 36 contests. Tonight started a string of 10 in a row against the Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins.

Stat of the Game

One streak came to an end while another continued tonight as the Mets have now played 11 consecutive games that were decided by two runs or fewer.

Player of the Game

Yohan Ramírez hurled two perfect innings with three strikeouts, throwing 19 strikes out of 25 pitches. He started the season with the Mets, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, then got waived by the Orioles before the Mets claimed him off waivers on Monday. This was his first appearance in nine days.

On Deck

Rookie Christian Scott makes the second start of his career and his debut in front of the Citi Field faithful on Saturday.

“I’m excited to pitch for them,” Scott told reporters on Fridat. “I mean they’ve been great to me coming up. It’s my dream ever since I got drafted here to pitch in front of them so I’m gonna go out there and give them everything I got.”

Scott, who gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings and recorded six strikeouts in his debut at Tampa Bay, will be opposed by lefty Max Fried (2-1, 4.23 ERA). The 4:10 p.m. ET game will be broadcast on SNY and FS1.

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