Mets’ defense had all kinds of problems in costly performace against Braves
NY Post
ATLANTA — The Mets finished with four hits and mishandled four Braves batted balls.
Such a ratio is rarely conducive to winning.
On a night the Mets did little right, their defense was particularly poor in a disappointing and series-opening 5-1 loss to the Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday.
“We didn’t play well,” Carlos Mendoza acknowledged after the Mets generously were charged with just one error. “We didn’t make a play a couple times.”
The Mets’ problems began in the first and never really stopped.
The second Atlanta batter of the game, Ozzie Albies, shot a ground ball at Luisangel Acuña that should have been a double play. But Acuna fumbled it and only got the out at second base.
Every one of his 23 catches is preserved in his stat log. The same with his 271 receiving yards and his three touchdowns. His 37 targets reflect that he is not one of the focal points — he is the focal point. The leaps into the air to snare the ball and quick pivots and spins to wriggle past defenders are newly minted memories for fans who went from wait-and-see to here-and-now when it comes to anointing this youngster as legit.