New York Mets beat Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 11 innings
NEW YORK -- Ruben Tejada singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning, Curtis Granderson hit a tying homer in the eighth and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Monday night.
David Wright went deep early, Travis d'Arnaud had an RBI double and Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven shutout innings for the Mets, who have won three of four. They took the opener of a four-game series after getting swept by the NL East leaders in Atlanta last week.
New York nemesis Freddie Freeman had three hits and a walk for the Braves, who won nine in a row before Sunday's 3-1 loss to Arizona. Andrelton Simmons singled twice for his sixth straight multihit game.
Carlos Torres (4-4) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Mike Minor allowed only two hits in seven innings on a 91-degree night, an encouraging outing for the Atlanta left-hander after he had a 5.21 ERA in his previous eight starts. He was in line for his first win since May 19 before Granderson connected off lefty Luis Avilan with two outs in the eighth to tie it at 3.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was ejected in the bottom of the ninth for arguing a call that was overturned on replay. After much discussion, Eric Campbell was ruled safe at second when replays showed Simmons came off the bag too soon as he took a throw and relayed to first.
Shae Simmons pitched out of the jam for Atlanta.
Juan Lagares doubled off Anthony Varvaro (3-2) with one out in the 11th, and Lucas Duda was intentionally walked before Lagares went to third on d'Arnaud's long fly to center.
Tejada lined the next pitch up the middle and tossed his helmet aside after rounding first. His jubilant teammates chased him down to celebrate in shallow center field.
Matsuzaka was lifted after 100 pitches, a move that backfired on manager Terry Collins when Atlanta rallied for three runs with two outs in the eighth.
Freeman doubled off Vic Black with one out and scored from third when reliever Josh Edgin's first pitch sailed just over Jason Heyward's head. The ball kicked hard off the backstop and caromed up the third base line, allowing Freeman to come home easily on the wild pitch.
Heyward then singled to center, ending an impressive streak for Edgin. He had retired his first hitter in all 23 outings - a club record to start a season.
Collins went to closer Jenrry Mejia, and Chris Johnson doubled off the top of the center-field fence to tie it 2-all. After an intentional walk to Tommy La Stella, fellow rookie Christian Bethancourt punched a go-ahead single to right.
New York's improving bullpen had a 1.97 ERA in the previous 21 games.
NOTES: It appears Braves RHP Julio Teheran won't get to pitch in his first trip to the All-Star game. Teheran is scheduled to start Tuesday night at Citi Field and then Sunday at the Chicago Cubs, two days before the July 15 showcase in Minnesota. He will likely be replaced on the active NL roster by a fresh arm. ... Teheran is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four career starts against the Mets. ... Freeman batted .407 with 18 RBIs in his previous 15 games against Mets. ... Atlanta C Evan Gattis (bulging thoracic disk) probably won't be ready to come off the 15-day DL right after the All-Star break, Gonzalez said. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee (strained right lat) will be limited to 90-95 pitches when he comes off the disabled list Wednesday night, Collins said. Gee will start in place of LHP Jonathon Niese, put on the 15-day DL last weekend with a left shoulder strain. ... Collins and GM Sandy Alderson called 2B Daniel Murphy into the office Sunday to tell him he made the All-Star team. "He thought he got traded," Collins said, drawing chuckles. ... New York wore camouflage caps and jerseys as part of its Military Mondays theme.
