ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves bounced back after a surprising loss in the first makeup doubleheader game and secured the final playoff spot with a 3-0 victory on Monday over the Mets. In the first game, the New York team won 8-7 and secured their spot in the postseason.
With three teams still in contention for the final two playoff spots in the National League, the Braves and Mets faced off in a doubleheader inserted in the lead-up to the wild card series of the postseason.
Defending champions of the National have been eliminated
The Arizona Diamondbacks, defending champions of the National League, were mere distant spectators and were eliminated from contention after their rivals from the National League East had to postpone their games last week due to Hurricane Helene which has devastated the southeastern United States.
The Diamondbacks, after losing to the Padres in two of their last three games, needed one of the teams to sweep the series in order to qualify.
In the first game, New York took the lead with a six-run burst in the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Brandon Nimmo. The Braves responded with four runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Ozzie Albies clearing the bases with a double off closer Edwin Diaz to take a 7-6 lead.
The Mets didn't throw in the towel. Starling Marte hit a single with one out against Pierce Johnson (7-5) and Puerto Rican Lindor responded with his 33rd home run, a shot that landed in the Atlanta bullpen in right-center field.
"We saw the pitch I was looking for and you never know if the ball is going to go or not," said Lindor. "But I felt like I could hit it squarely and all I could say was: 'Thank you, Jesus.' We are one step closer, now we have to finish it. Finish it, finish it, finish it."
Díaz (6-4) obtained the victory after throwing 40 pitches — his highest amount this year — despite allowing Albies' hit.
In the second game, Grant Holmes, who took the place of Braves' ace Chris Sale, who was ruled out due to back spasms, pitched four scoreless innings in the second encounter and Marcell Ozuna gave Atlanta a breather with a two-run single in the seventh.
Both clubhouses at Truist Park erupted in a champagne celebration.
How will the playoffs be played in Major League Baseball?
In the wild card round of the National League, the Mets will play against the Milwaukee Brewers while the Braves will face the San Diego Padres. Waiting in the divisional round are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In the American League, in the wild-card round, the Houston Astros will face the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles will face the Kansas City Royals. The winners will face the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians.