The Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets 4-3 on Thursday evening in the finale of a three-game set at Truist Park, which allowed the Braves to take the series 2-1.
Freddie Freeman secured the win with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Freeman’s heroics followed the announcement earlier in the evening that he has been chosen as the National League’s starting first baseman for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. will also be in the starting line-up.
Austin Riley had a two-run homer off Jacob deGrom that gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Dominic Smith tied it up for New York with a pair of solo shots in the top of the seventh and ninth innings.
Braves closer Will Smith got the win. Starting pitcher Ian Anderson gave up two runs and three hits, walked two, and struck out a pair over seven innings. Seth Lugo took the loss for the Mets.
The Braves remain in third place of the National League East, now three and a half games behind the division leading Mets. They will host the last-place Miami Marlins in a three-game set over the holiday weekend. The first pitch of tonight’s series opener is slated for 7:20 pm. That outing will be broadcast on WLAQ 1410 AM and 96.9 FM; air time is 6:05 pm.
In a minor league update, the Rome Braves game that had been scheduled for Thursday night versus the Wilmington Blue Rocks has been postponed due to rain in Wilmington, Delaware and will be made up as part of a double header on Saturday. The teams will meet this evening at 7:05 pm.