Reese Kaplan - What a Difference a Day Makes!

During the off-day the media was chock full of stories about everything that went wrong during the Mets’ opening homestand at Citifield.  There was the bullpen implosion, the soaring strikeout totals and the individual tribulations of any number of offensive players.  Now they were headed to the Turner Field house of horrors.  Ex-Met Aaron Harang was coming off a terrific start and he always was a good strikeout pitcher.  It was a prescription for disaster.

The Braves have to be asking themselves, "What the hell happened?"

Travis d’Arnaud got off the schneid with a 2-hit effort, including legging a single into a double. 

Eric Young was on base three times and notched a pair of stolen bases, his first of the season.

Ruben Tejada lead the offense with 2 clutch RBIs.

Even Terry Collins deserves kudos for challenging a close play executed against Juan Lagares and when the out call was overturned, it resulted in the flashy centerfielder having hit safely in all seven games the Mets have played.

Even Curtis Granderson swiped a base against a seemingly confused Evan Gattis behind the dish for Atlanta. 

Let’s not forget the beatific Buddha, Bartolo Colon.  Not only did he keep all the Braves’ hitters off stride, scattering just a handful of hits  (most of which happened only after there were two men out), but after looking scared of the pitched ball in his early plate appearances, he also got down a picture perfect bunt to set up a run. 

Even Kyle Farnsworth in his 8th inning manhandled the home-run crazy Braves lineup.  He pitched a 1-2-3 inning before leaving for emergency closer Jose Valverde’s cardiac-inducing 9th inning.

For 24 hours against arguably the best team in the division the Mets looked as if they could go toe-to-toe with the cream of the crop.  Enjoy it while it lasts.