Matt Harvey, Mets Bats Struggle in Loss to Braves

The Mets bats were unusually quiet and Matt Harvey continued his baffling struggles as the Braves shut out the Mets Tuesday night at a chilly, soggy Citi Field.

The game was scoreless until the fourth when Alex Smith homered to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Former Met Kelly Johnson led off the sixth with a single and a stolen base. He scored on an A.J. Pierzynski double. Pierzynski went to third on a fly out to center (successfully challenging the arm of Yoenis Cespedes) and then scored when Harvey uncorked a wild pitch to extend the lead to 3-0. A walk and a single forced Harvey from the game. Hansel Robles came in with runners on first and second with two outs. A double steal put runners on second and third, but Nick Markakis grounded out to end the threat.

Harvey went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Meantime, Braves starter Matt Wisler stymied the Mets high-flying offense. They did not get their first and what turned out to be their only hit of the game until the fifth inning, a single by Asdrubal Cabrera. Wisler went eight excellent innings.

Mets lose 3-0. They’ll try to take the rubber game in a Wednesday matinée.