MLB: Mets top Braves behind Tylor Megill’s sharp final start

Atlanta, Georgia - Tylor Megill wrapped up his successful rookie season with an impressive performance against the Braves, the NL East top dog that clinched the division for the fourth straight year this week.

The Mets beat the Braves 4-3 on Friday night.
The Mets beat the Braves 4-3 on Friday night.  © 123rf/moovstock

Megill hurled five one-hit innings in his 18th start of the season and helped lead the Mets to a 4-3 win over the Braves on Friday night at Truist Park. The right-handed rookie brought his usual poise to the mound against the team he debuted against back on June 23.

All told, Megill recorded a 4.52 ERA in 89 2/3 innings after his surprising mid-season promotion. His 18 starts are third-most on the Mets. The 26-year-old earned his fourth win of the year on Friday.

Megill started against Atlanta four times this year and posted a 2.81 ERA (six earned runs, 19 2/3 innings) against them. That is quite an impressive stat for a newcomer against the team with the best record in the NL East.

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Megill was nowhere near the Mets’ radar when they began the 2021 season with a rotation that featured Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi. By June, the Mets were without Lucchesi, who needed season-ending Tommy John surgery, and deGrom was making infrequent starts due to injuries.

In the top of the sixth, Kevin Pillar and Jacob Webb shared a special moment. Webb is the Braves right-handed reliever who drilled Pillar square in the nose with a fastball back in May.

Friday night was the first time Pillar and Webb faced off since the bloody on-field incident. They tipped their caps to each other before the at-bat. Pillar said, back in May, that he and Webb met face to face in the tunnel the following day. Both players wanted to make sure they were OK after the situation.

After a seven-pitch battle, Pillar struck out swinging on Webb’s change-up for the first out of the inning.

Cover photo: 123rf/moovstock

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