, a first-round draft selection in 2012, used a sinker-slider mix to limit New York, allowing just five baserunners through six innings before tiring in the seventh. The Lawrenceville, Georgia, native also got his first major league hit, singling off Chris Flexen (3-5) leading off the sixth. He later scored on Markakis' double.Juan Lagares had three hits and Tomas Nido drove in a pair of runs in his first major league start for the Mets, who lost for the seventh time in the last eight games. New York dropped to 66-90, hitting the 90-loss mark for the first time since going 70-92 in 2009.Nick Markakis had a two-run double and Tyler Flowers homered for Atlanta, which has won three of four. Flowers also caught two baserunners stealing.Rookie infielder Ozzie Albies gave Atlanta an early lead, driving Flexen's fastball off the right-field facade. Citi Field was so quiet at the time, the sound of the ball hitting the signage echoed throughout the ballpark.Atlanta padded its lead in the sixth after Flexen loaded the bases without recording an out. Josh Smoker relieved and quickly induced a pop-up from Freddie Freeman, but Markakis hit a 1-1 slider that hugged the left field line to score two runs. After Flowers was intentionally walked to again load the bases, Rio Ruiz lifted a sacrifice fly to center.Flexen allowed four runs and three hits over five innings. It was his return to the rotation after four relief appearances.''I thought there were a lot of positives to take from today,'' he said. ''Very strong, solid through five. Struggled in the sixth, lost the command there, but overall, still a positive performance today.'' New York finally got on the board in the seventh. Phil Evans led off with a walk and moved to second on Lagares' third hit of the game. With his young hurler tiring, Snitker brought in Dan Winkler, who allowed Nido's two-run double, spoiling Sims' final line.TRAINER'S ROOMBraves: After leaving his start on Sept. 14 with a cut on the tip of his right middle finger, RHP Mike Foltynewicz is unlikely to make another start this season.UP NEXTAtlanta sent LHP Max Fried (1-0, 4.41 ERA) to the mound for Game 2. The Mets countered with RHP Seth Lugo (6-5, 5.03 ERA).---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball)
Mets, Braves begin final week with doubleheader 2h ago• 2 min read NEW YORK -- Two teams being led by managers who may be in their final week on the job will square off in a doubleheader Monday when the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.The doubleheader, necessitated by a rainout in New York on April 25, will be a single-gate affair starting at 4:10 p.m. EDT. The second game will begin 30 minutes after the opener concludes.In the first game, Mets right-hander Chris Flexen (3-4, 7.13 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Braves right-hander Lucas Sims (2-5, 5.14 ERA) in a battle of rookies. New York right-hander Seth Lugo (6-5, 5.03 ERA) is slated to duel Atlanta rookie left-hander Max Fried (1-0, 4.41 ERA) in the nightcap.Both teams lost Sunday, when the Mets fell to the Washington Nationals 3-2 at Citi Field and the host Braves completed their first season at SunTrust Park with a 2-0 blanking at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.With the Braves (70-84) and Mets (66-89) long out of contention, talk has shifted in recent weeks to the fates of Atlanta manager Brian Snitker and New York skipper Terry Collins.Snitker, who is in his first full season at the helm, has an option for 2018 that has not yet been picked up. He met with Braves executives Saturday to discuss his future, but no decision was reached."It was a good meeting and we had a chance to talk about the year going forward," Snitker said. "It was a lot of positive things." The future appears far cloudier for Collins, who is about to complete his seventh season at the helm. While Collins steered the Mets to the World Series in 2015 and has managed the most games in team history, he is unsigned beyond 2017, and general manager Sandy Alderson has repeatedly said any discussions will be held once the season concludes.Collins said Friday afternoon that he hasn't pondered the possibility he could be in the midst of his final homestand. The Mets end the season by visiting the Philadelphia Phillies for three games beginning Friday."I've got enough on my plate trying to figure out this pitching, trying to figure out guys' playing time," Collins said. "That's where the focus is going to be, and it'll be there for the next, certainly, 10 days." The start Monday will be the first since Sept. 3 for Flexen, who made his past four appearances out of the bullpen. Flexen hasn't pitched since Wednesday, when he tossed two scoreless innings in the Mets' 9-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.Sims didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, when he gave up one run in five innings in the Braves' 7-3 loss to the Nationals.Lugo didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, when he allowed one run in five innings as the Mets fell to the Marlins 5-4 in 10 innings.Fried will also start Monday for the first time since Sept. 3. He last pitched Sept. 16, when he faced the Mets for the first time in his career and tossed a scoreless inning in the Braves' 7-3 loss.Flexen has never faced the Braves. Lugo is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two career starts against the Braves. Sims allowed two runs in two innings of relief in his lone appearance against the Mets on Sept. 16.
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