Braves bank on bullpen, streak to fifth win overall and against Mets

AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Braves reliever Mark Melancon pitches during the ninth inning of Sunday's 4-0 win against the visiting New York Mets.
AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Braves reliever Mark Melancon pitches during the ninth inning of Sunday's 4-0 win against the visiting New York Mets.

ATLANTA - How much Yoenis Céspedes was missed Sunday afternoon at Truist Park depended on which dugout you were sitting in.

How much he will be missed for the rest of the season - well, the New York Mets will eventually find out.

Kyle Wright and the Atlanta bullpen combined on a 10-hit shutout as the Braves pushed their streak of victories to five, winning 4-0 against their National League East Division rivals by blanking a New York lineup that found out late that slugger Yoenis Céspedes had opted out of playing any longer in this COVID-19 pandemic-threatened Major League Baseball season.

Wright pitched scoreless ball for 3 1/3 innings despite allowing five hits and issuing four walks. Tyler Matzek (1-0), A.J. Minter, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon worked the final 5 2/3 innings to send the Mets to their fifth consecutive loss. They've also lost five in a row to the Braves, who took two of three the weekend before in a season-opening series at Citi Field.

"They've been really good. We've put a lot on them," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of his bullpen. "It's been all hands on deck. They have been better than expected. Thank goodness, because we needed it. Everyone who came out of the bullpen was huge."

The teams are set to meet again Monday night in Atlanta to complete a four-game set, and the Mets don't expect to have Céspedes, who went 0-for-4 while hitting sixth in the lineup Saturday. He is 5-for-31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts this season.

The Mets released a statement from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen in the early innings that said Céspedes, 34, wasn't at the ballpark and the team had been unable to contact him. Van Wagenen said after the game the organization was notified by the two-time all-star outfielder's agent during the loss that he had decided to opt out for "for COVID-related reasons."

"I am very surprised," first-year New York manager Luis Rojas said. "Him and I have had conversations regularly about playing time, where he was going to hit in the lineup, building him up in the outfield.

"Nothing like this, so this is definitely a surprise."

The Braves learned early in the game about the absence of Céspedes', whose seventh-inning home run was the difference in New York's 1-0 win over the Braves in the season opener.

"We heard and got the message he wasn't in the ballpark," Snitker said. "Kind of nice to cross his name off and not worry about him."

New York had plenty of traffic on the bases, especially against Wright, but he worked around trouble in each of the first three innings.

"I felt like I was never out of control," Wright said. "I got myself in a lot more jams than I wanted, but I felt like I was good managing it. Hopefully limit walks next time."

Ronald Acuña Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk in the third from David Peterson (1-1). Freddie Freeman added an RBI grounder, and Johan Camargo hit a solo home run in the fourth.

Peterson went six innings, striking out eight and allowing Atlanta's first three runs.

The season opener was Céspedes' first game in the majors since July 20, 2018. He missed most of the past two years with a series of leg problems, getting surgery on both heels and then a broken ankle after a tumble at his Florida ranch in a supposed run-in with a wild boar.

Céspedes struggled with his timing after that uplifting home run, though, and didn't seem comfortable at the plate. Asked whether he sensed Céspedes opted out because he was frustrated over his slow start, Van Wagenen said he couldn't comment on such speculation.

"It's disappointing for the fans and from my vantage point," the manager said. "Everyone enjoyed watching him at his best. He worked hard in his rehab. This is a disappointing end to his four-year agreement, but it wasn't for lack of work ethic."

Céspedes had been the Mets' designated hitter this season, taking advantage of a new rule this year that allows that lineup spot in all games, including those in NL ballparks. Because he didn't begin the season on the injured list with a foot injury, his salary rose from $2,222,222 prorated ($6 million before the schedule was shortened) to $4,074,074 ($11 million before the change).

Céspedes was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers during the 2015 season and his power helped put the Mets into the World Series that October. An All-Star in 2016, he signed a $110 million deal after the season but has not been the same since.

The Mets made two trades Sunday, getting outfielder Billy Hamilton and dealing away pitcher Tyler Bashlor.

The speedy Hamilton was acquired from San Francisco for right-handed pitcher Jordan Humphreys. The 29-year-old Hamilton was part of the Giants' 60-man player pool but hasn't been in a game this season.

A switch-hitter, Hamilton ranks third among active players with 299 career stolen bases, and he has been safe on 81.3% of his tries. Hamilton hit a combined .218 for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta last year.

Said Van Wagenen: "We've endured injuries, and it is next man up. We want to add depth, which is why we made the trade for Hamilton before the game."

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was out of the lineup for the second time in three days, again because of a stiff right wrist. Adeiny Hechavarria started in his place.

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