Atlanta Braves pitcher Alex Wood pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 in New York.NEW YORK – Chris Johnson hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and Atlanta beat the New York Mets 4-1 on Wednesday after Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was hit in the right jaw by a pitch.
Heyward went down in a heap during a scary scene at Citi Field in the sixth. He was examined by Mets doctors and taken to a hospital for X-rays.
Atlanta, with the best record in baseball and a huge lead in the NL East, got an RBI single from Freddie Freeman and another impressive start by rookie Alex Wood in splitting the two-game series for its 20th victory in 24 games. The Braves also benefited from a disputed call in the 10th.
Andrelton Simmons singled off Scott Atchison (3-2) with two outs and Freeman hit a two-strike grounder back toward the box that ticked off the bottom of Scott Rice’s glove and rolled behind him. The reliever retrieved the ball and fired to first, where Freeman was called safe.
Mets manager Terry Collins came out to argue with umpire Jerry Layne before Johnson launched a drive to left field on Greg Burke’s first big league pitch since he was recalled from the minors on Sunday.