David Peterson can't escape sixth inning, bullpen stumbles in 4-3 loss to Braves

The Mets were unable to complete a three-game sweep of the Braves in Atlanta, losing Sunday's matchup by a score of 4-3. 

Here are the key takeaways…

— The Braves broke through to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning against Gregory Soto. With a runner at first and two outs, Soto walked a hitter and hit another with a pitch, loading the bases for Jurickson Profar, who delivered with a bloop single to center, scoring a pair to put Atlanta up 4-2.

Prior to the inning, Tyrone Taylor, who entered the game as a pinch-runner, stayed in the game to play left, keeping Cedric Mullins in center. It’s no guarantee that Taylor would have caught the Profar bloop, but it at least raised questions about the defensive alignment.

— The Mets had some chances late, but weren’t able to capitalize. In the seventh, Juan Soto worked a two-out walk to load the bases for Pete Alonso, but facing lefty Dylan Lee, Alonso grounded out harmlessly to third. Then, in the eighth, Brett Baty hit a high fly ball to right center that looked like it could possibly sail over the fence for a homer, but Michael Harris II somehow tracked it down and made the catch.

The Mets also put a couple of runners on in the ninth to put the tying run on base, and Soto came through with an RBI single to make it a one-run game, but Alonso and Jeff McNeil each popped out to end the game.

The top four in the Mets order — Francisco Lindor, Soto, Alonso, and McNeil, went a combined 2-for-15, with both hits (singles) coming in the ninth inning.

— Stay hot, Mark Vientos!

Starting at first base, Vientos smashed a two-run homer in the top off the second, sending a hanging Bryce Elder breaking ball into the seats. With the blast, Vientos homered in his third straight at-bat, and seems to be back in a groove at the plate. The Mets need to get production from outside of their “Big Four,” and a hot Vientos would go a long way.

— David Peterson had a couple of rough starts earlier this month, but the lefty appeared to be locked in once again, looking like his All-Star self, at least in the early going.

After pitching 8.0 innings of one-run ball against the Washington Nationals his last time out, Peterson was dominant through five shutout innings, but things unraveled int he sixth. Peterson walked a pair of Braves to load the bases, and Sean Murphy capitalized with a two-run single to right, tying the game and ending Peterson's afternoon. Peterson went 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking four.

— Atlanta starter Bryce Elder allowed the early two-run shot to Vientos, but outside of that brief hiccup, the righty had a nice day on the mound. Elder settled in and gave the Braves 6.0 strong innings, allowing just those two earned runs on three hits, striking out six and walking two.

— A silver lining of the loss was that Brandon Nimmo was healthy enough to serve as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, though he flew out for the inning's first out. Before the game, Carlos Mendoza said there's a "good chance" that Nimmo is back in the starting lineup on Monday.

Game MVP

Profar, who had the game-winning hit in the eighth inning and also played solid defense in left.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets return home to start a crucial three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Kodai Senga will square off against lefty Cristopher Sanchez.

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