New York – The Atlanta Braves came tantalizingly close to breaking their 30-year no-hitter drought on Saturday at Citi Field, only to have their hopes dashed by a clutch home run from New York Mets’ J.D. Martinez in the ninth inning. The Braves, led by pitcher Max Fried’s impressive performance, had held the Mets hitless up to that point in the game, showcasing the strength of their pitching staff.
Fried, who pitched seven no-hit innings, demonstrated his prowess on the mound with five strikeouts and three walks before ultimately being replaced. Despite the Braves’ dominant pitching, Martinez’s solo home run off Atlanta’s closer Raisel Iglesias put an end to their pursuit of a no-hitter, marking his first homer as a Met. The Mets ultimately fell to the Braves 4-1, despite Martinez’s heroics.
The Braves’ last no-hitter was achieved back in 1994 by Kent Mercker against the Los Angeles Dodgers, making their quest for another elusive no-hitter a longstanding challenge for the team. Fried’s performance was nearly flawless, with only a few close calls from the Mets threatening to break the no-hitter before Martinez’s crucial at-bat in the ninth inning.
The Mets’ offense faced setbacks of their own during the game, with leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo exiting after the fourth inning due to what was termed as “right intercostal irritation.” Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed optimism about Nimmo’s condition, stating that he is considered day-to-day. Despite their defeat, the Mets showed resilience in the face of Atlanta’s formidable pitching, coming close to spoiling Fried’s impressive performance on multiple occasions throughout the game.
While the Braves may have fallen short of a historic no-hitter, their strong showing against the Mets underscores the team’s potential in the competitive MLB landscape. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on their performances, with the Braves aiming to end their no-hitter drought and the Mets seeking to capitalize on their offensive opportunities to secure crucial victories in the weeks to come.