Gant gets first win as Braves top Mets
NEW YORK -- Rookie right-hander John Gant threw 6 2/3 strong innings to earn his first major league win Friday night, when the Atlanta Braves extended their longest winning streak in two months with a 5-1 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field.
The Braves (21-46) have won three straight, their longest winning streak since they won four in a row from April 15-19. The Mets (36-30) have lost four of six.
Gant, who was drafted by the Mets in 2011 and traded to Atlanta in exchange for Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe last July 24, allowed the one run on just two hits and two walks while striking out five. It was the second career start for Gant, who retired 18 of 20 batters following Curtis Granderson's single leading off the first inning.
Four pitches finished up the combined six-hitter. The Mets left the bases loaded in the seventh, when left-hander Hunter Cervenka struck out pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores, and stranded two in the eighth, when Jim Johnson whiffed Michael Conforto.
Freddie Freeman continued his torrid hitting by going 3-for-5 with an RBI double. Freeman is batting .565 (13-for-23) over the last five games.
Ender Inciarte had two hits, including an RBI double, for the Braves while A.J. Pierzynski and Nick Markakis each had RBI singles.
Yoenis Cespedes had an RBI groundout in the first for the Mets while Granderson delivered two hits.
Right-hander Matt Harvey took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings. Harvey entered Friday with a 0.90 ERA in his previous three starts.
The Mets took a quick 1-0 lead when Granderson led off the first with a double, went to third on a grounder to second by Asdrubal Cabrera and scored on Cespedes' ground out to third.
The Braves scored twice in the third and once apiece in the fourth and fifth against Harvey. In the second, Erick Aybar drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out double by Inciarte, who raced home on Freeman's double.
Jace Peterson led off the fourth with a double and scored on Pierzynski's one-out single. Mallex Smith opened the fifth with a walk, stole second and came home on a two-out single by Markakis.
NOTES: Mets 3B Wilmer Flores, who left Thursday's game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch, was not in Friday's starting lineup but is expected to return this weekend. INF Kelly Johnson replaced Flores and made his first start of the season at third base. ... Mets C Travis d'Arnaud (right rotator cuff strain) was scheduled to serve as the designated hitter Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas. D'Arnaud, who has been on the disabled list since April 26, is expected to be activated Tuesday. ... Braves 3B Adonis Garcia (ankle), who left Thursday's game, was not in Friday's starting lineup but should return at some point during the three-game series. ... Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz (bone spurs in right elbow), who was placed on the disabled list June 4 retroactive to May 31, threw off a mound Thursday. He is scheduled to face batters this weekend.