Braves and Mets Split Historic Doubleheader; Both Clinch Playoff Spots
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets played a historic doubleheader on Monday at Truist Park in Atlanta. The teams entered play on Monday tied with records of 88-72, and they were also both tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had finished their season at 89-73. There were only two spots remaining in the MLB playoffs for three teams. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, they would both make it into the playoffs. But, if one team swept the doubleheader, the Diamondbacks would snag the final spot over the team that got swept. Here is how the historic end to the 2024 MLB season unfolded.
Game 1:
Game one was a strong candidate for the game of the year. With the winner of the first game guaranteed a playoff spot, both teams treated this game like a playoff game. The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning after an Ozzie Albies two-run homer. Atlanta padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a Ramon Laureano solo shot. The Braves looked to be cruising to a playoff-clinching win until the top of the eighth inning. The Mets offense exploded in the eighth for six runs, capped off with a two-run homer by Brandon Nimmo to make it 6-3. However, the Braves fought right back in the bottom of the frame with four runs of their own after a bases-clearing double by Ozzie Albies scored the tying and go-ahead runs to make it 7-6 Atlanta. Then, Francisco Lindor came up clutch one last time for New York in the top of the ninth with a two-run go-ahead homer to give the Mets an 8-7 lead that they would not give up. The exhilarating win by the Mets clinched their spot in the playoffs heading into game two.
Game 2:
Chris Sale was expected to make the start for the Braves with their season on the line in a must-win game, but he was scratched right before game time due to back spasms. So, the Braves had to put their season in the hands of Grant Holmes. Luckily for Atlanta, Holmes delivered in the biggest start of his life. He went four innings of shutout baseball, totaling seven strikeouts and only one hit. The Braves got run support from a pair of RBI singles by Gio Urshela in the second inning and Marcell Ozuna in the seventh inning, who drove in two runs. The Braves used a committee of bullpen arms to shut out the Mets before closer Raisel Iglesias slammed the door in the ninth inning to complete the 3-0 shutout. The Braves clinched their playoff berth with the win, officially knocking out the Diamondbacks from playoff contention.
NL Wild Card
The Braves and Mets will have little time to celebrate as they both will hit the road to start their playoff runs on Tuesday. The Braves will travel to San Diego to take on the Padres, and the Mets will go to Milwaukee to play the Brewers. Since the Mets won game one of the doubleheader, they were able to rest their star pitcher, Luis Severino, and he will start game one in Milwaukee against Freddy Peralta. The Braves have yet to announce a starter for tomorrow’s series opener against the Padres, who will be throwing Michael King. Both NL Wild Card series will be best of three to see who will advance to the NLDS.
