Mets takeaways from Saturday’s 6-0 loss to Braves, including no run support for Jose Quintana

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) scores a run on a RBI single by Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Citi Field. / John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets were shut out for the second time in three games against the Atlanta Braves and were swept in Saturday’s doubleheader.

Here are the takeaways…

– Right from the beginning of the game, it was a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel between Jose Quintana and Spencer Strider. Matching zeroes for the first four innings, both pitcher’s had everything working from pitch one.

Quintana retired the first 10 batters he faced before Ozzie Albies singled in the fourth inning. A stolen base and a walk put Quintana in his first jam of the night, but the lefty induced a double play to left-handed hitter Matt Olson that ended the inning.

– On the other hand, Strider allowed a single to Brandon Nimmo to lead off the game but was nails after that. With a runner on second and one out in the inning, the Mets once again couldn’t come up with the big hit and allowed Strider to escape an early run-scoring opportunity.

– The Mets got the first hitter on in the second inning as well, but again couldn’t push a run across. In fact, Strider allowed the first batter of the first three innings to reach base (twice via a walk), and every time he escaped trouble.

– The game’s first run came in the top of the fifth inning. After striking out Travis d’Arnaud to start the frame, Quintana allowed a line drive double to left field by Marcell Ozuna who advanced to third on a flyout. Facing former Met Kevin Pillar – Atlanta’s No. 8 hitter – with two outs, the veteran Quintana had an avenue to get out of the inning, but after a seven-pitch at-bat, Pillar singled to center field to break the scoreless tie.

– New York had another chance to score in the bottom half of the frame after Nimmo doubled toward the left field line with two outs, just the team’s second hit of the night (both by Nimmo). Francisco Lindor promptly popped out in foul territory and the Mets were left with nothing.

– Quintana’s final inning came in the sixth when he loaded the bases with a single and two walks, but got out of it without allowing a run. For the fourth straight start, Quintana went at least six innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 3.03 and was the tough-luck loser in the game after New York couldn’t give him any run support. He’s still searching for his first win with the Mets.

– After Trevor Gott pitched a scoreless seventh inning, Drew Smith came on to pitch the eighth inning and it didn’t go well, no thanks to his defense. Albies led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch and scored on Austin Riley’s fielder’s choice that went right past Danny Mendick at second base before Tim Locastro booted the ball in center field that allowed the run to score. Smith then allowed a two-run double to Ozuna that made it 4-0, Braves, effectively ending New York’s chance at a comeback.

– The Mets did, however, put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom half of the eighth but were unable to score.

– Albies added a two-run homer in the ninth off Phil Bickford to cap things off as Atlanta outscored the Mets 34-3 in the first three games of the series.

HighlightsWhat’s next

The Mets and Braves finish off their four-game set on Sunday Night Baseball starting at 7:10 p.m.

RHP Kodai Senga pitches for New York, opposed by RHP Yonny Chirinos.