NEW YORK – With Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets’ hard-throwing bullpen missing bats at a historic pace, the Atlanta Braves were ready to win with small ball Friday night.
That’s exactly what Billy Hamilton is there for – although this first contribution wasn’t exactly on script.
Hamilton singled home the go-ahead run in the 14th inning for his first hit as a Brave, and Atlanta beat the Mets 2-1 for its sixth straight win despite yet another sensational effort by deGrom on the mound and at the plate.
“Might be one of the best feelings of my life except for my first stolen base in the major leagues,” Hamilton said. “I mean, this might be the top.”
The Mets tied an MLB record by striking out 26 batters, including 13 by deGrom, and 21-year-old Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. became the second-youngest player ever with a 30-homer, 30-steal season in the majors – only Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout did it younger.