The Mets' bullpen allowed seven runs over the final three innings during a 7-3 loss to the Braves on Tuesday night at Citi Field.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) Robert Gsellman (6-2) retired one batter and was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on two hits and a walk. An error by center-fielder Austin Jackson helped the Braves load the bases with one out. Drew Smith uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch and surrendered a go-ahead two-run single to Ronald Acuña Jr. to put Atlanta ahead, 4-3. Jerry Blevins allowed three runs -- two earned -- in the eighth, including a two-run shot by Ozzie Albies.
2) Noah Syndergaard allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings before being removed due to illness. He was in line for his first career win against the Braves until the Mets' bullpen surrendered four runs in the seventh. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 3.49 ERA in seven career meetings with Atlanta, including two no-decisions and a loss this season. Syndergaard lowered his ERA in September to 2.20 in five starts.
3) Michael Conforto hit an RBI double, singled and walked Jay Bruce had a run-scoring single to give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Tomas Nido's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Brandon Nimmo, who walked in three of his four plate appearances to give him 25 free passes this month.
News and notes...
The Mets fell to 4-13 against the Braves and 1-7 at Citi Field. New York had not lost 13 games to Atlanta in one season since 2009 (5-13).
New York has lost 13 games (52-13) in 2018 when leading after six innings.
Conforto is batting .298 (28-for-94) with 16 extra-base hits and a Major League-best 28 RBIs in 23 games this month. Bruce has six homers, 20 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 28 games since he returned from the disabled list on Aug. 24.
Syndergaard was in line to become the first pitcher to win seven consecutive games at Citi Field. Frank Viola (1990) was the last Mets hurler to win seven straight games at home.
Blevins has surrendered eight earned runs in his last 2 2/3 innings to raise his ERA from 3.46 to 4.97 in the span of five outings.
New York's bullpen allowed seven runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and a walk over the final three innings. Mets relievers have a 7.13 ERA over their last 83 1/3 innings and a 5.01 mark this month. Their 35 losses are the most in the National League.
The Mets reinstated David Wright from the 60-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game.
What's next...
The Mets (73-84) continue their series with the Braves (89-68) on Wednesday night at Citi Field at 7 p.m. on SNY.
Jacob deGrom (9-9, 1.77 ERA/2.03 FIP, 259 K's, 0.938 WHIP) makes his final case for the N.L. Cy Young Award in his 32nd and last start of 2018. The 30-year-old allowed one run over seven innings against the Nationals last Friday to snap a five-game winless streak. DeGrom is 0-2 with a 1.09 ERA in five starts against the Braves this season. He is 5-5 with a 1.83 mark in 16 career meetings with Atlanta.
Sean Newcomb (12-9, 4.04 ERA/4.18 FIP, 151 K's, 1.339 WHIP) looks to rebound after surrendering five runs and six hits in three innings against the Nationals on Sept. 16. The left-hander has struggled to a 7.44 ERA across seven starts since Aug. 12. Newcomb is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two matchups with the Mets this season and 2-2 with a 2.12 mark in five career meetings.