Mets start series at Braves with 5-3 loss

[ASFN Admin]

The Mets started this weekend's four-game series at the Atlanta Braves with a 5-3 loss.

Takeaways​

1. Christian Scott allowed two hits in four innings, but his mistakes were costly. He put the Mets (36-52) in a 2-0 hole after Mauricio Dubón's leadoff walk and Michael Harris II's home run. Scott (2-1, 3.49 ERA) surrendered a one-out solo shot to Ozzie Albies in the third inning that broke a 2-2 tie and put the Braves (51-35) back ahead. New York pulled Scott, who had seven strikeouts and four walks while allowing three runs, after 51 strikes on 82 pitches. The Mets' offense did not help Scott, but they also need more from their starters. Scott has not pitched five innings or more since June 5, a 5-0 win at the San Diego Padres, in which he went 5.2 IP while throwing 67 strikes on 98 pitches.
2. Juan Soto's 18th home run of the season, an opposite-field smack down the left-field line with one out in the third inning after A.J. Ewing reached first base on a fielding error, tied the 2-2 game and was a bright spot during New York's otherwise frustrating night at the plate. Soto's 2-for-4 evening included a successful challenge in the seventh inning, turning what would have been a 3-2 count into a five-pitch walk with two outs. Soto has 41 RBI through 69 games.
3. Ewing's first game as the Mets' leadoff batter saw him score a run, via Soto's aforementioned homer, but ultimately go hitless in three at-bats. Ewing flew out to center field twice before Tyrone Taylor's pinch-hit appearance in the seventh inning.
4. Among the Mets' relievers after Scott,Kodai Senga pitched 2.2 IP. Senga allowed one run on two hits while striking out four with 44 pitches (26 strikes) from the sixth inning until exiting with two outs in the eighth.

Who's the MVP?​

Matt Olson, whose two home runs -- respective solo shots in the fifth and eighth innings -- widened the gap for the Braves after Albies' aforementioned go-ahead homer.

Highlights​

Juan Soto is called for a pitch clock violation by home plate umpire Malachi Moore after Soto appeared to have something in his eye

Soto was ruled to have not gotten back into the batter's box in time pic.twitter.com/prQ4YMXWhu

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 3, 2026

A 1-2-3 first inning on 10 pitches for Christian Scott pic.twitter.com/UCevSBJZJn

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 3, 2026

Juan Soto goes the other way for a game-tying two-run homer! pic.twitter.com/4lEua0qiFc

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 4, 2026

Christian Scott strikes out the side! pic.twitter.com/nmqs2WqKs3

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 4, 2026

Cionel Pérez caught Juan Soto's home run in his hat pic.twitter.com/w1uuaHusnH

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 4, 2026

Two strikeouts in the inning for Kodai Senga! pic.twitter.com/rLGp6T54qV

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 4, 2026

Bo BIchette keeps the game going!

The tying runs are on base in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/binVD3aaLm

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 4, 2026

What's next​

The Mets and Braves continue their series with Saturday's 8:08 p.m. game.

LHPs Sean Manaea (1-3, 4.71 ERA) and Chris Sale (8-6, 2.10 ERA) are set to start.

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