New York Mets players high-five each other as Atlanta Braves’ Jason Heyward, left, walks off the field after flying out in the ninth inning to end a baseball game, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in Atlanta. New York won 4-0.ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves entered from center field for their home opener, running down a red carpet to the cheers of 47,144 fans before their game against the New York Mets.
But the grand entrance wasn’t enough to make up for the Braves’ ongoing offensive struggles, and they fell 4-0 on a night highlighted by a pregame ceremony honoring the 40th anniversary of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run that broke Babe Ruth’s career record.
Aaron Harang continued Atlanta’s run of surprisingly strong starting pitching so far this season, giving up just two hits and allowing a single run on a wild pitch while striking out nine over six innings, but the Braves bullpen faltered and the offense couldn’t dent the scoreboard. Harang struggled with control, walking four and throwing the wild pitch that allowed Ruben Tejada to score.
Gus Schlosser could only get one out in the top of the seventh while giving up two hits, and he was credited for two runs that scored on a single by Eric Young given up by Luis Avilan.
Avilan left the game after suffering a hamstring cramp trying to avoid the barrel of Daniel Murphy’s bat, which shattered on a line-drive single to centerfield.