Shaun Marcum Great, Mets Snap 5-Game Losing Streak

Who knew Shaun Marcum  knew how to pitch? Not Mets fans who have been subjected to watching his starts thus far this season. He was brilliant Sunday night against the Braves, but he wasn’t around long enough to get the win, as the Mets bats woke up in the eighth inning to snap the team’s five-game losing streak.

Lucas Duda broke up a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a solo blast into the seats in right. Duda’s ninth home run extended his hitting streak to nine games.

The Braves finally got to Marcum in the seventh. An infield single and a Dan Uggla homer gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

Shaun Marcum ended up going seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out a career high 12 Braves and didn’t walk a batter.

Pinch hitter Justin Turner singled to lead off the eighth inning. With one out Duda hit a ground rule double for his third hit on the night. John Buck singled to plate Turner to tie the score at two. Duda moved to third on the play. Mike Baxter was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Ike Davis came through with a two-run single to give the Mets a 4-2 lead. He had two hits (one of them a gift from the official scorer) and probably staved off his expected trip to the minors for now.

Bobby Parnell closed it out for his seventh save of the season, and the losing streak is history.