Atlanta Braves Clippings

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Braves.com

Scoring struggles continue as Braves fall to Mets

By Mark Bowman and Anthony DiComo / MLB.com | 1:52 AM ET

NEW YORK -- Their Sunday stumble against the Giants squarely behind them, the Mets wasted no time Monday returning to their winning ways. Bartolo Colon delivered eight shutout innings, and the Mets backed him with three first-inning homers in a 4-1 win over the Braves.

David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda all homered in the first inning off Mike Foltynewicz, whom the Braves recalled from the Minors prior to the game.

"Giving up four runs in the first inning for us is like giving up 10," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We haven't been scoring runs. Today we outhit them [9-8], but they almost hit more home runs than we did the whole month of April."

That was all the offense the Mets mustered off Atlanta pitching, but it was plenty for Colon, who became the first New York starter to pitch into the eighth inning this season. The result was Colon's 220th career victory, moving him past Pedro Martinez for sole possession of second place on Major League Baseball's all-time wins list among Dominican-born pitchers.

"Of course I'm very excited," Colon said through an interpreter. "I'm really happy about it. It's pretty neat to pass Pedro, but he's always going to be one of the big ones for us."

The Mets have won all four of their games against the Braves this season, outscoring them by a combined 21-7.

"It's nice to get four in the first," Wright said, "and just let Bartolo do his thing."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Triple apple: Coming into the game with more than six times as many home runs as the Braves, the Mets quickly added to their total off Foltynewicz. Wright opened the scoring with a solo shot to left. Following a Michael Conforto single, Cespedes extended the lead with a two-run homer. Then Duda hit one off the facing of the second deck in right field, the fifth time this season the Mets have gone back-to-back.

"I don't think it's streaky. I definitely think we are pretty hot right now," Cespedes said through an interpreter. "But I think we really have the potential in this lineup to be hitting those kind of home runs throughout the whole season."

Norris stops the bleeding: After surrendering home runs to three of the first five batters he faced, Foltynewicz limited the Mets to three more hits over the remainder of his 3 2/3-innings stint, which included 98 pitches. The former top prospect was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday to take the rotation spot previously held by Bud Norris, who worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in this series opener.

"After those four runs in the first, I told myself that's all they're going to get. Bud saved my butt there in the fourth by preventing that from happening," said Foltynewicz, who was making his first start since he was shut down because of a blood clot in September.

Living legend: Colon walked a tightrope early, squeezing out of jams in each of the first three innings. Then he put an end to Atlanta's offense altogether, retiring a dozen straight Braves from the third through seventh innings. He needed just 99 pitches to complete eight.

"I thought I'd be going out for the ninth, but that was the manager's decision," Colon said. "The most important thing is to respect whatever the manager says."

All for naught: The Braves recorded six hits, including two doubles, through the first three innings. But Colon managed to make the big pitches when necessary. Daniel Castro grounded into a double play in the first inning. Reid Brignac and Mallex Smith struck out after A.J. Pierzynski opened the second inning with a double.

QUOTABLE "I think a lot of teams think I can't hit it when it comes straight like that. So I'll keep swinging at it and show them that I can." -- Cespedes, on Foltynewicz throwing him a 1-1 fastball

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Mets' three first-inning homers came off the bat at 106.3 (Wright), 105.9 (Cespedes) and 97.7 mph (Duda), per Statcast™. None of them were the hardest-hit balls of the inning. That honor belonged to Conforto, whose single registered at 107.2 mph.

Honorable mention to Colon, who hit a 101.9-mph foul liner during his inning-ending at-bat.

"Even I was pretty shocked," Colon said. "I don't think I've ever hit a ball as hard as I hit that."

The three home runs hit by the Mets in the first inning exceeded the total (two) the Braves have produced over their past 20 games.

WHAT'S NEXT Braves: Matt Wisler will take the mound when Atlanta and New York resume this three-game series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Wisler posted a 2.14 ERA in three starts against the Mets last year.

Mets: Matt Harvey's last start was his best of the season, both in form and results. He'll look to build on that when the Mets return to Citi Field on Tuesday for Harvey's second start against the Braves in his last three outings.

Fredi, Folty optimistic despite shaky debut

Young right-hander allows three homers in first inning vs. Mets

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:35 AM ET

NEW YORK -- One ugly inning did not alter the Braves' hope that Mike Foltynewicz will prove more effective than Bud Norris was in their starting rotation. But his rocky first frame was a reminder that Foltynewicz has not yet distanced himself from some of the struggles that haunted him during frustrating 2015 rookie season.

On Monday, Foltynewicz understandably had to battle the added excitement of making his first Major League start since undergoing emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in September. But it did not take the former prospect long to be humbled as he surrendered home runs to three of the first five batters he faced in a 4-1 loss to the Mets.

"I don't want to use that as an excuse," Foltynewicz said. "I was ready for this game, and it was probably the best I've felt all year coming into the game. But I might have gotten a little too amped up in the first inning and maybe kind of rushed through the first nine batters without taking my breaths and thinking [about] what to throw."

During his 42-pitch first inning, Foltynewicz surrendered a solo homer to David Wright on a 3-2, 93-mph fastball. Yoenis Cespedes drilled a two-run shot on a 1-1, 96-mph fastball, and Lucas Duda followed by whacking a 92-mph, full-count fastball off the front of the upper deck in right field. Within a span of 16 pitches, Foltynewicz allowed more home runs (3) than the Braves have hit (2) over the past 20 games.

"These guys are Major League hitters, and those balls are right over the middle of the plate," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But [Foltynewicz] competed. He had a [42-pitch] first inning and gave us a couple more innings, and he shut them down. He started mixing his pitches and started commanding his fastball."

Foltynewicz surrendered just three more hits after the fateful first inning, keeping the Mets scoreless over the remainder of his 3 2/3-innings, 98-pitch outing. Norris stranded the two baserunners he inherited in the fourth inning and didn't surrender a hit during a 2 1/3-innings relief stint that proved much more efficient than any of the five starts he made before being removed from the rotation last week with a 8.74 ERA.

"[Norris] is a guy who can give us whatever we need him to do," Gonzalez said. "He can spot start or give us those innings right there. Hopefully, he can fill that [long-relief] role for us."

In other words, the rotation spot still belongs to Foltynewicz, who has allowed at least two home runs in five of his past eight MLB starts dating back to last year. The 24-year-old hurler possesses an incredibly high ceiling and the kind of overpowering stuff that could see him develop into a frontline starter if he improves his command.

"The balls that were hit -- and even some of the outs that were made -- were [pitches] out over the middle of the plate, center-cut fastballs" Gonzalez said. "You've got to throw 110 mph for those guys to miss that."

Braves option Peterson, recall Foltynewicz amid moves

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | May 2nd, 2016

NEW YORK -- After having a chance to assess their offensive woes this past weekend, the Braves decided it was time to alter their roster by adding three veteran Minor Leaguers who have previously spent some time at the big league level.

The Braves made a flurry of moves on Monday as they selected the contracts of Reid Brignac, Matt Tuiasosopo and Chase d'Arnaud from Triple-A Gwinnett. Jace Peterson, who has opened the past two seasons as Atlanta's starting second baseman, was optioned to Gwinnett and outfielder Drew Stubbs was designated for assignment just one month after it was determined he was a better fit than the since-released Michael Bourn.

Mike Foltynewicz, who served as the starting pitcher for Monday night's game against the Mets, was also recalled, and John Gant was optioned back to Gwinnett to fill the rotation spot previously held by Foltynewicz. The Braves ended up adding four players and subtracting three, as they had not filled the void created on Sunday, when Emilio Bonifacio's promotion was voided by a rule technicality after right-handed reliever Chris Withrow had already left Chicago to join Gwinnett.

"I don't think this is a desperation move," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I think we gave [Peterson and Stubbs] opportunities to prove themselves, and now we need to get better offensively."

Gonzalez and some of his coaches discussed ways to improve the offense after Saturday's game was postponed and again after Sunday's victory. Two of the four runs the Braves tallied over 10 innings came with the assistance of Cubs' defensive mistakes.

"You feel like you needed to do something, and we've been in constant contact with [Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker]," Gonzalez said. "[Snitker] says d'Arnaud is playing well, can play all three outfield positions and is good in center field. He said Brignac is still swinging it, and Tuiasosopo will be a guy off the bench who can scare somebody and hit a ball out of the ballpark. So, you make those moves."

Brignac was immediately inserted into the lineup as the starting second baseman for Monday night's game against the Mets. The 30-year-old infielder hasn't lived up to the expectations that were set back when he was a top prospect in the Rays' system. But he hit .329 with a .822 OPS through 22 games with Gwinnett, giving the Braves reason to believe he is currently a better option than Peterson, who has hit .182 and with a .465 OPS in 50 plate appearances this season.

d'Arnaud batted .255 with a .672 OPS through 100 plate appearances with Gwinnett. The 29-year-old journeyman will essentially fill the backup outfield role that had been presented to Stubbs, who signed a Minor League contract with the Braves after being released by the Rangers during the final week of Spring Training. Stubbs produced a .625 OPS in 42 plate appearances with Atlanta.

Tuiasosopo was ecstatic to learn he was returning to the Majors for the first time since playing 81 games for the 2013 Tigers. The husky corner outfielder and first baseman hit .218 and tallied four homers over 102 plate appearances for Gwinnett.

"It's been two years since I've been [in the Majors]," Tuiasosopo said. "It's been a fight. My wife and I were talking about it last night, and we were in tears because we were so happy. I fought hard to get back up here, and I'm excited to be here to help the team."

Gonzalez talks Peterson's future, roster moves

Braves manager: 'Jace is a big part of our organization'

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | May 2nd, 2016

NEW YORK -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez admitted it was not easy to tell Jace Peterson he had been optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday. But at the same time, Gonzalez realized that his former starting second baseman was not providing much value at the Major League level, especially as Peterson had primarily been serving as a backup over the past two weeks.

"Jace is a big part of our organization," Gonzalez said. "Why sit him on the end of the bench and play him just twice a week? He needs to go down there, get 40-50 at-bats and string together 10-15 games to see what he has. He hasn't really had a chance to play steady."

The Braves designated outfielder Drew Stubbs for assignment and optioned both Peterson and right-handed reliever John Gant to Gwinnett to create roster spots for three position players -- Matt Tuiasosopo, Reid Brignac and Chase d'Arnaud -- who were promoted from Gwinnett to Atlanta on Monday.

Monday night's starting pitcher, Mike Foltynewicz, was also recalled in the same series of moves to fill a spot on the Atlanta roster, which stood at 24 on Sunday, when Emilio Bonifacio's promotion was voided by a technicality.

Peterson was burdened by a thumb injury as he batted .239 and produced a .649 OPS while serving as Atlanta's primary second baseman in 2015. The 25-year-old versatile defender has hit .182 while tallying just 44 at-bats this year. His playing time decreased when the Braves promoted Daniel Castro during the second week of the season and started giving him regular action at both of the middle-infield spots.

With top prospects Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies inching closer to being the Braves' double-play combo, it was logical to assume Peterson's long-term future with the Braves would be as a utility man.

"At some point, you've got to do what's best for him and what's best for our organization," Gonzalez said. "I think it's best for him to go play every day and get back to where he should be."

Johnson, O'Flaherty receive NL champs rings

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | May 2nd, 2016

NEW YORK -- Braves veterans Kelly Johnson and Eric O'Flaherty each received a nice gift on Monday afternoon, when Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson entered the visitors' clubhouse at Citi Field with two 2015 National League championship rings.

"Any ring you get, you're excited and happy to get it," Johnson said. "It's a gorgeous ring. Who knows how many opportunities you'll have to wear it. But it's something you can always look at and know that it's special. We'd all like to have a World Series ring, but a National League ring is not too bad either."

The Mets took off soon after they acquired Johnson and Juan Uribe from the Braves after last year's All-Star break. Though there were a number of contributing factors to the Mets' surge, including the emergence of Michael Conforto and the off-the-charts success of Yoenis Cespedes, Alderson reminded Johnson that his arrival helped the team vault toward the top of the NL East standings and advance to the World Series.

"Anything like [the trade] initially catches you off guard, but then it ends up being pretty special," Johnson said. "I didn't know what to expect, and it turned out to be great in every single way."

Johnson batted .250 and produced a .718 OPS over the 49 games he played for the Mets last year. O'Flaherty, who began the 2015 season in Oakland, made 16 appearances after he joined the Mets in August, but he was not included on the postseason roster.

Pipeline preview: Royals' Dozier, Braves' Sims highlight Minors' slate

By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | 37 minutes ago

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: Hunter Dozier (Royals' No. 15)

Dozier's resurgence in the Texas League has seen him hit .316/.419/.684 with seven home runs in 22 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. This, of course, comes after he hit just .213/.281/.329 with 12 homers in 128 games at the level in 2015. The 24-year-old third baseman is riding a five-game hitting streak entering Tuesday, and, after going 2-for-4 with a dinger on Monday, has now homered in three of his past four contests for the Naturals. Dozier will look to stay hot as Northwest Arkansas hosts Springfield at 8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Pitcher to watch: Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 12)

Sims recorded season highs in both strikeouts (11) and innings pitched (seven) in his last start for Gwinnett, which was just his second at the Triple-A level. The 21-year-old righty has yet to win a game in 2016, going 0-3 in five starts, but he's still posted a solid 2.03 ERA in 26 2/3 frames between Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett. More significant, Sims is leading the Minors with 42 strikeouts and ranks fourth with a 14.2 K/9, while opposing hitters are batting a paltry .163 against him. On Tuesday, Sims and Gwinnett will host Toledo in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m.

Duel of the day: Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals' No. 5) vs. German Marquez (Rockies' No. 13), Harrisburg vs. Hartford (AA 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

Lopez made strides during the second half last year at Class A Advanced Potomac, but, so far, that progress hasn't translated at the Double-A level for the 22-year-old righty, who is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings (four starts) for the Harrisburg. Marquez, on the other hand, has been outstanding for Hartford in his first Double-A exposure, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings. Acquired from Tampa Bay as part of the Corey Dickerson-Jake McGree trade during the offseason, Marquez, who will pitch the entire season at age 21, has yet to allow more than two earns runs in his four starts for the Yard Goats. The two hurlers will square off when Harrisburg hosts Hartford at 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Harvey looks to build momentum vs. Braves

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:55 AM ET

Matt Harvey seemed to start righting himself when he pitched in Atlanta two weeks ago. Now coming off his best start of the young season, the Mets' right-hander will have a chance to beat the Braves again when he takes the Citi Field mound on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

Harvey certainly has battled some mechanical issues, as he has posted a 4.76 ERA and hasn't completed more than six innings in any of his first five starts. But Mets manager Terry Collins was encouraged by what he saw when Harvey recorded a season-high seven strikeouts and limited the Reds to two runs over six innings on Wednesday.

Harvey has allowed the third-highest batting average (.448) with runners in scoring position among all qualified Major League pitchers. The Braves entered Monday's series opener ranked second in the National League with a .290 batting average with runners in scoring position. But this

combination does not necessarily signal problems for Harvey, who limited the Braves to two runs, despite surrendering seven hits over five innings on April 22.

Though the Braves have consistently put the ball in play when they have runners in scoring position, their lack of power has led to a lot of unrewarded station-to-station baseball. Among NL teams with runners in scoring position entering play Monday, Atlanta ranked 11th in at-bats and slugging percentage.

Things to know

• The Braves will counter with Matt Wisler, who will be pitching with two extra days of rest. Ten of the 13 runs Wisler has surrendered have come within three of the 25 1/3 innings in which he has appeared. The young right-hander posted a 2.14 ERA in three starts against the Mets last year.

• Freddie Freeman has gone hitless in nine at-bats against Harvey, but the Braves' first baseman has collected the most extra-base hits (23) of any visiting player at Citi Field dating back to the start of his 2011 rookie season.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mets rock ‘Folty’ in 1st inning, cruise past Braves

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW YORK – In retrospect, perhaps the Mets weren’t the ideal team for Mike Foltynewicz to face in his season debut.

The Braves right-hander gave up four runs on three long home runs in the first inning Monday and the Mets cruised to a 4-1 win in a series opener at Citi Field. It was the 12th win in 14 games for the Mets, and their 15th win in the past 21 games against the Braves.

“You can’t fall behind guys and then leave fastballs over the middle of the plate,” said Foltynewicz who pitched on two days of rest and said he might have been too amped up and rushed things in the first inning. “It’s the major leagues, everyone’s good. When you fall behind (in counts) like that, it’s not going to be pretty.”

After splitting two well-pitched games against the Cubs at Chicago, where Braves starters Julio Teheran and rookie Aaron Blair allowed a total of just one run and four hits in 13 innings, any semblance of momentum came to a screeching halt in the first inning in Queens.

Foltynewicz threw 42 pitches in the first inning and 98 pitches in 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks. He has a 10.45 ERA and .408 opponents’ average in three games against the Mets, including a relief appearance as an Astros rookie in September 2014 and two starts for the Braves.

“Four runs in the first inning for us is almost like 10, the way we haven’t been scoring runs,” said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose Braves are last in the majors in runs per game and home runs. “They almost hit more home runs in one inning than we did the whole month of April. But it is what it is, and we’ve got to continue getting good at-bats and have our pitching staff keep us in ballgames and not fall behind.

“For me, the only time you miss the lack of power is when you get behind like this, and you can’t do anything.”

The Mets (16-8) have 34 home runs in their past 16 games, while the Braves (6-19) have five homers all season.

After the Braves failed to capitalize on two first-inning hits including a Freddie Freeman double against ancient Met Bartolo Colon, Foltynewicz allowed four runs on four consecutive one-out hits in the first inning including a David Wright home run, a Michael Conforto single, and back-to-back homers by Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda. All the homers were on fastballs.

“They’re 94, 95, 96 miles an hour, but these guys are major league hitters, and those balls are right over the middle of the plate,” Gonzalez said. “But he competed. He had a (42-)pitch first inning and he competed, gave us a couple more innings and shut them down. He started mixing his pitches, starting commanding his fastball.”

Colon (2-1) pitched eight scoreless innings for his 220th win, moving past Pedro Martinez for second on the career list among Dominican pitchers behind Juan Marchal (243). The portly 42-year-old allowed seven hits and no walks with seven strikeouts, improving to 5-0 in six starts against the Braves since the beginning of last season.

“He just takes off enough miles per hour when he needs to, ramps it up when he needs to, doesn’t miss spots very often,” Freeman said. “And that’s obviously what he did tonight.”

Gonzalez said, “You want to see young pitchers who are watching games on TV (take note) — it’s not about velocity, it’s about making balls move, and his command. He pounds the strike zone. I think at one point I looked up and he had 80 pitches and almost 70 strikes.”

Braves shake up roster in effort to boost offense

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW YORK – After watching the Braves produce the worst record and worst offense in the majors for the month of April, manager Fredi Gonzalez and his coaches had long discussions during the rainy weekend in Chicago and agreed that changes needed to be made.

Multiple changes.

And so, after consulting with Triple-A Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker for his opinion on players that might help the big-league team, Gonzalez took their suggestions Sunday night to top Braves baseball officials, general manager John Coppolella and president of baseball operations John Hart.

The answer from the brass was, we can make it happen.

That was the rapid germination for a roster shuffle the likes of which is rarely seen so early in a major league season. The Braves brought up three players – veteran utilityman Reid Brignac, journeyman infielder/outfielder Travis d’Arnaud, left fielder/pinch-hitter Matt Tuisosopo – from Gwinnett and dropped three from the 25-man roster including former starting second baseman Jace Peterson, optioned to Gwinnett.

Outfielder Drew Stubbs, after batting .237 (9-for-38) with one homer and 20 strikeouts, was designated for assignment, and relief pitcher John Gant was also optioned to Gwinnett.

“Three or four (moves), I think our clubhouse can handle it,” Gonzalez said of the shakeup. “I don’t think it’s a desperation move, I really don’t think that. I think we gave guys opportunity to prove themselves, and now we need to get better offensively.”

Gonzalez emphasized that the Braves haven’t given up on Peterson, hitting .182 with just one extra-base hit and a .465 OPS in his second full season. He had started just two of the Braves’ past 10 games and needs to get more playing time, the manager said.

Asked if the new trio of players might bring energy as well as help the offense, Gonzalez said, “I hope so. All these guys are high-makeup guys. Touey’s a high-makeup guy. Chase d’Arnaud has more energy than anyone; he’s already wearing me out and he’s only been here one hour. But he can play. He’s played very well in Triple-A. Touiey’s played well.

“Brignac has played well; Brignac really had a hell of a spring. He had a spring training that you could have argued he should have made that club out of spring training. So, hey, we’ve got these young men coming and hopefully they can help us.”

Brignac hit .329 with a .422 OBP in 85 at-bats for Gwinnett, and was in the Braves lineup at second base Monday. The others hadn’t produced big stats at Gwinnett, but the belief is they can help the Braves’ bench.

D’Arnaud, brother of Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud – who’s on the disabled list and rehabbing in Florida – hit .255 with eight extra-base hits (one homer) and a .300 OBP in 94 at-bats at Gwinnett. Touisosopo hit .218 with four homers in 87 at-bats.

Braves director of baseball operations Billy Ryan is on the trip with the team, and when Gonzalez discussed the ideas for personnel moves, Ryan set up a conference call Sunday with his bosses including Hart.

Gonzalez said he felt bad telling Snitker how many of Gwinnett’s veteran players he was going to ask for.

“I said, I’m sorry Snit, you might have a team to field tonight after we get done,” Gonzalez said. “He said, ‘This is what I’m here for.’… (Sunday) night is when we finally made the phone call.

“You go through the protocol, the proper channels. And everybody sees the same thing, everybody’s watching the same thing. It’s not like I’m going to come in and say, ‘I’m going to send (Nick) Markakis down to Triple-A. So (top team officials) said, OK, let’s see what we’ve got; we don’t have any roster issues. We got on the conference call, run it up the flagpole to the president of baseball operations (Hart), he goes, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”

Pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was also brought from Gwinnett to start Monday night against the Mets, a move the Braves had announced Sunday.

Peterson: from opening-day 2B to Triple-A in 4 weeks

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW YORK — Four weeks after Jace Peterson made his second consecutive opening-day start at second base, the Braves optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

Peterson was hitting just .182 (8-for-44) with one extra-base hit and a .465 OPS in 21 games, and had started just two of the Braves’ past 10 games, and only two of the past 16 at second base.

“Jace is a big part of our organization, and why sit him on the end of the bench, play him twice a week?” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He needs to go down there and get 45 or 50 at-bats, string together 10, 15, 20 games, and see what he has. He really hasn’t had a chance to play steady.”

With Peterson struggling early, Gordon Beckham moved into the primary second-base role before going on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Five players have started at second base in 14 games since the Beckham injury including five starts by rookie Daniel Castro.

Reid Brignac, one of three position players brought up from Gwinnett on Monday, got the start at second base in the series opener against the Mets on Monday night.

Peterson, 25, started 137 games at second base in 2015 in his first full season in the majors and first year with the Braves after being acquired in a trade from the Padres. After a sizzling 50-game stretch before the All-Star break, Peterson’s offense fell off and he was slowed by a thumb injury that he played through without revealing how much pain he was in.

He finished the 2015 season with a .239 average, 34 extra-base hits (six homers) and a .649 OPS, and the Braves thought he would improve significantly upon those numbers this season after resting and rehabbing the thumb over the winter.

“Jace Peterson played every day for me last year,” Gonzalez said. “But you sit back and you talk to your coaches and you go, are we doing this guy any good (keeping him up in the majors in a part-time role)? At the end of the day, is him playing once or twice a week doing him any good, or doing us any good? So we sent him out.

“That’s going to be a positive. Petey’s going to turn that into a positive, and we’ll see him again…. We have to do what’s best for him and what’s best for our organization. I think what’s best for him is to go to Triple-A and play every day and get back to where he should be.”

Tuiasosopo’s return to majors with Braves a dream come true

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW YORK – Matt Tuiasosopo is getting a chance to play in the major leagues again for the first time since 2013, and getting it with the Braves, the opponent when he had the best game of his career.

The Braves purchased the contract of the left fielder from Triple-A Gwinnett, one of a series of roster moves they announced Monday before their series opener against the Mets at Citi Field.

Tuiasosopo, who’ll turn 30 on May 10, hit .218 (19-for-87) with four home runs, 13 RBIs, a .324 OBP and .425 slugging percentage in 25 games for Gwinnett, and will serve mainly as a pinch-hitter for the Braves. After Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker called Sunday night to tell him he was going to the majors, Tuiasosopo became emotional.

He caught a flight from Atlanta late Monday morning along with two other Gwinnett teammates, outfielder Chase d’Arnaud and utility man Reid Brignac, who were also called up by the Braves.

“You just keep believing in the dream, you keep fighting for it,” said Tuiasosopo, who played in 152 games in parts of four seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2008-2010) and Tigers (2013). “You just keep going and keep believing and expecting great things to happen. Never lose hope.

“It’s been three years since I’ve been here. It’s been a fight. My wife and I were talking about it last night. We were in tears. I fought hard to get back up here, and I’m excited to be here and to help the team.”

His only season in the major leagues during the past six years was with Tigers in 2013, and it was on April 26 that season when he went 2-for-4 with a home run and a career-high five RBIs in a 10-0 rout of the Braves in Detroit. Anibal Sanchez had a career-high 17 strikeouts in eight innings for Detroit.

“I remember that series,” he said, smiling. “It was a fun series. That was up there as one of my best (days).”

Tuiasosopo’s father, Manu, was an NFL defensive end with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, and two older brothers played football at the University of Washington, with oldest brother Marques going on to play quarterback in the NFL for eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

Matt, too, was a standout high school football quarterback who signed a letter of intent to play at Washington, but opted to play baseball after the Mariners took him in the third round of the 2004 draft.

Tuiasosopo has a .207 career average with 12 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .646 OPS in 401 career plate appearances. The former Mariners corner-infield prospect has toiled for much of 13 seasons in the minors, where he’s collected 114 home runs in just over 4,000 at-bats in 1,122 games.

Now that he’s back in the major leagues after three years away, he said he would appreciate it more.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I always remember what my brother told me when he retired from the NFL – when you have a jersey on your back, you never take it for granted. You compete every day. Every day that you’re here at work, you compete. That’s one thing that he misses. So every day when I was down at Triple-A I competed every day, just kept believing in my dream, that I could get back up here and play at the highest level.”

Braves sign lefty Burnett to minor league deal

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEW YORK – The Braves’ search for left-handed relief help continued with the signing of veteran Sean Burnett to a minor league contract.

Burnett, 33, opted out of a minor league deal with the Dodgers to sign with the Braves, who have an opportunity readily available for the former setup man if he looks like he can eventually help their big-league team.

Attemping to make it back to the big leagues after a second Tommy John elbow surgery in 2014, Burnett had a 2.35 ERA in seven appearances for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, allowing eight hits (one homer) and six walks with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

He’ll report to Triple-A Gwinnett for now as he continues to work toward a hopeful return to the big leagues, where he last pitched in 2014, making three appearances with the angels before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament again in his pitching elbow.

Burnett returned to the Nationals this spring training, but didn’t make their team out of camp and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers.

He was an outstanding setup man for the Nationals during 2009-2012, posting a 2.43 ERA in 73 appearances in 2010 and a 2.38 ERA in 70 appearances in 2012. That work helped land Burnett a two-year, $8 million deal with the Angels, but he pitched in only 13 games in 2013 before an elbow impingement required season-ending surgery. A year later, he had the far more extensive Tommy John surgery for a second time.

Credit the Braves for trying stuff. Lots of stuff, actually

By Mark Bradley

The Atlanta Braves opened the season April 4. Today is May 3. Of their 25-man Opening Day roster, nine men are gone. That’s a turnover of 36 percent in less than a calendar month. That’s amazing.

Some of the shuffling has to do with injury (Ender Inciarte, Gordon Beckham) and suspension (Hector Olivera). Jhoulys Chacin opened the season in the minors to get a start before being slotted into the Braves’ rotation. Still, let’s run the numbers:

Of the five pitchers who constituted that original rotation, three — Chacin, Matt Wisler and Julio Teheran — remain in place. Williams Perez was sent down after three starts. Bud Norris was demoted to the bullpen after five. Aaron Blair and Mike Foltynewicz were summoned from Gwinnett to take regular turns.

Through 25 games, the Braves have used 14 different relievers (counting Wisler’s save in Miami). The list of relievers deployed this season but no longer on the big-roster: Ryan Weber, Chris Withrow, John Gant, Casey Kelly, Jose Ramirez, Matt Marksberry and Daniel Winkler. The latter broke his elbow.

Among position players, yesterday’s round of changes saw the demotion of Jace Peterson, who’s 25 and who hasn’t done much since June 2015. The journeyman Drew Stubbs, who’s 31, was designated for assignment. (Of the Braves’ five home runs, Stubbs owns the only non-solo shot.) Promoted were Reid Brignac, Chase d’Arnaud and Matt Tuiasosopo — three more journeymen.

(The Braves did promote Ozzie Albies to Class AAA Gwinnett and Dansby Swanson to Class AA Mississippi over the weekend. Those guys are coming fast, but the Braves really don’t want to force-feed their top prospects into the major leagues.)

In sum, we’ve begun to see the arrival of some of the heralded young arms (Wisler, Blair, Foltynewicz), but the Braves’ position players continue to skew old. Here are the ages of the Braves’ non-pitchers:

Catchers: A.J. Pierzynski, 39; Tyler Flowers, 30.

Infielders: Freddie Freeman, 26: Brignac, 30; Erick Aybar, 32; Adonis Garcia, 31; Kelly Johnson, 34; Daniel Castro, 23.

Outfielders: Jeff Francoeur, 32; Mallex Smith, 22; Nick Markakis, 32; d’Arnaud, 29; Tuiasosopo, 29.

That’s 13 position players, only two of whom are younger than 26. Only three are younger than 29. We say again: This is not the Braves team we’ll be seeing next year and maybe not next month.

Credit to the Braves for trying something. (When you’re 6-18 — now 6-19 — you have to try something.) According to the AJC’s Dave O’Brien, the impetus for Monday’s mass movement came from Fredi Gonzalez and his coaches, so don’t say John Coppolella and John Hart aren’t trying to give their manager at least some of what he wants. (Pretty sure Fredi G. really wants Mike Trout, but he’s not available.)

Inciarte, who’s 25, could be back by week’s end, and he’s a good player. Nobody knows what’s apt to happen with Olivera, who’s 30. (The Braves are trying to trade him; there will be no takers.) And, as was seen Monday night in New York, change in and of itself is no guarantee of better results.

The Braves lost 4-1 to Bartolo Colon, who’s 42. Foltynewicz yielded three first-inning home runs. The Braves are on pace to finish 39-123 and hit 32 home runs.

Braves break out the pink for moms

By The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When the Braves face the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, May 8, at Turner Field, the team will honor moms on and off the field.

This Mother’s Day, the Braves will wear pink ribbons on their uniforms along with pink wrist bands. Players also will wear specially-designed uniforms with pink logos and hats.

The game will be played with a pink-stitched baseball.

Play catch

The team is offering a special ticket package that includes two dugout seats and a 20-minute “catch” session on the field following the game.

'Honorary Bat Girl'

Across Major League Baseball, teams will recognize an "Honorary Bat Girl." Fans voted for a person who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease.

The Braves' will honor Carol Thomas of Guntersville, Ala. Thomas has been battling breast cancer since 2013 and is now in her third round of chemotherapy. On Sunday, Thomas and a friend will be given a tour of Turner Field, as well as a meet and greet with Braves players and their wives.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, whose mother, Rosemary, died from Melanoma in 2000, served as a guest judge to select the contestants. This was Thomas' winning submission:

Hello fans. I am a 50 year old female, mother of the 2 best children in the world. My story began in 2013 when I was diagnosed with Triple negative Breast Cancer. I am up to bat for my 3rd time with chemotherapy. My first at bat was chemotherapy followed by double mastectomy and reconstruction. Then the cancer came back. So my second up to bat I did 28 rounds of radiation followed with 12 more treatments of chemotherapy! Then the cancer came back! So I am up to the plate for my 3rd at bat... I just finished my 16th chemo infusion along with taking 5 chemo pills per day. My oncologist has given me a year to plan for my final grand slam and party!! I continue to smile every day and will continue to battle until the very end. My friends are helping me check off my bucket list and experience as many things that are practical !! We have been Atlanta Braves fans forever and frequently attend games. I am leaving the game tradition to my lovely daughter who played softball during her school years including in college on scholarship!! I feel like this would be a perfect way to hand her the bat to carry on as well as to give me one last Turner Field experience to talk about when I get to heaven to see my Mom and Dad!!

Baseball America

Braves Have Two Elite Shortstops Of The Future

By Ben Badler

Debating who should be the Braves shortstop of the future would have seemed silly just two years ago.

The Braves had just signed Andrelton Simmons to a seven-year, $58 million contract before the 2014 season began, a deal that appeared to lock down the position for the rest of the decade with the best defensive shortstop in baseball.

Instead, Simmons spent just two more seasons with the Braves before the team shipped him off to the Angels in the midst of a complete organizational overhaul. But instead of a hole in the middle of the diamond, the Braves now have two of the game’s elite shortstop prospects close to contributing. Neither one has made it any easier to figure out which one will be the future shortstop in Atlanta.

There’s Dansby Swanson, who entered pro ball with a golden pedigree—No. 1 overall draft pick, coming off his second straight trip to the College World Series at Vanderbilt after winning Most Outstanding Player at the CWS the previous season. Swanson, 22, was too good for high Class A Carolina, so the Braves bumped him to Double-A Mississippi last week. Overall, Swanson is hitting .333/.434/.544 through 106 plate appearances with 15 walks, 13 strikeouts and two home runs, including one inside-the-parker. His 13 doubles are tied for the minor league lead and he has stolen seven bases in eight attempts.

One level ahead of Swanson, the Braves have 19-year-old Ozzie Albies, who now edges Dodgers precocious lefty Julio Urias as the youngest player in Triple-A. The diminutive shortstop signed out of Curacao for $350,000 in 2013. Even the best players from that class—like Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers and Cubs shortstop Gleyber Torres—are in high Class A, with many promising prospects signed that year still in extended spring training.

The Braves have hit the accelerator with Albies, who missed the final month of the 2015 season with a broken right thumb but still skipped a level to start the year in Double-A before getting the quick bump to Triple-A Gwinnett in conjunction with Swanson’s promotion. Albies is batting .332/.402/.458 in 107 plate appearances with 10 walks and 16 strikeouts. He only has two stolen bases in five tries, but he has shown plus-plus speed.

Swanson is three years older than Albies, but Albies is one level ahead, which at least gives Albies a head start in the race to Atlanta. At the plate, the switch-hitting Albies has shown supreme bat control and the ability to use the whole field. He has excellent plate coverage and makes frequent contact thanks to his innate hand-eye coordination, which can even be a detriment at times when he pokes a pitch out of the strike zone for a weak ground ball. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, Albies has gotten stronger since signing but is unlikely to ever be a power threat, relying more on hitting line drives to all fields and getting on base. He shows a two-strike approach as well, starting his swing with a leg kick until he gets to two strikes and cuts down to a smaller toe tap.

Albies’ baseball IQ is outstanding for his age and shows up in all phases of the game. He might look like he’s 16 years old, but his instincts and internal clock are well beyond his years. Albies has a nose for the ball at shortstop, getting good jumps off the bat with quick feet, clean actions and smooth hands at shortstop to go with plus or better arm strength.

All of those tools were on display in his second Triple-A game, when he ranged deep to his right to field a groundball in shallow left field, picked it cleanly on a backhand play, then made a jump throw that he fired direct online to first base for the out.

If there’s a knock on Albies defensively, it’s that he can get erratic with his throws. Four of his six errors this season are throwing errors, though the two he picked up in Triple-A were only slightly off the mark. Through coaching and repetition, it’s easily correctable and common to find among young shortstops, it just happens to stand out more when that young shortstop is one step away from the majors instead of in low Class A.

Swanson doesn’t have Albies pure arm strength, but it’s a solid-average arm that plays up due to his quick exchange and accuracy. He’s an above-average runner with a quick first step and good anticipation at shortstop. Last week with high Class A Carolina, he showed off his instincts, footwork and athleticism on this groundball up the middle that he fielded, spun and made an accurate throw to first to end the game.

At the plate, Swanson is a polished righthanded hitter who should move quickly. He has a short, quick swing and a good batting eye, projecting as a potential plus hitter who should get on base at a high clip. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he has more size and power potential than Albies.

The Braves could plug Swanson in at shortstop in Atlanta and have a potential franchise cornerstone at the position. Or if the Braves want to hand the job to Albies and move Swanson to second base, he has experience there already, having played that position as a sophomore at Vanderbilt in 2014 before moving to shortstop in 2015.

There isn’t an obvious answer to what the Braves should do, but it’s a decision Braves fans should be excited to watch unfold.

New York Times

For Rebuilding Braves, No Place to Go but Up

By TYLER KEPNER

Fredi Gonzalez had breakfast on Monday with an astronaut, Michael J. Massimino, who has flown two missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Massimino, a longtime friend, asked Gonzalez how someone could possibly stand at the plate and hit a 99-mile-an-hour fastball.

Gonzalez, the manager of the Atlanta Braves, was incredulous. How, he asked rhetorically, do you walk in space?

“You’ve got to have some pride and ego and a little cockiness about yourself to be able to do that,” Gonzalez said. “You’ve got to be pretty sure about yourself, Mike.”

After a black hole of an opening month, these Braves have found that self-assurance does not come easily. They lost 18 games in April, the most in franchise history (since 1900), and arrived in Flushing with just five home runs— or half the total of Trevor Story, the Colorado Rockies’ rookie shortstop.

The Braves, who open a new ballpark next season and have traded most veterans of value, did not expect to contend. But they did not plan to struggle like this. They made seven roster moves Monday, including the demotion of second baseman Jace Peterson, who was batting .182. His replacement, Reid Brignac, had a rough night: When he leaned down for a grounder in the fourth inning, the ball hopped off the base and smashed him in the face.

It’s been that kind of season for the Braves, whose 4-1 loss dropped their record to 6-19, the worst in the majors.

“It’s not what we expected,” General Manager John Coppolella said in an email. “We felt we would have a better team than we did last year because of a deeper lineup and a better bullpen. It seems like we keep saying the same thing, but we can’t make excuses and we just have to play better.”

Chances are, they will. The Braves’ winning percentage is .240, an outlier that would come in even lower than the 1962 Mets’ standard of futility. They have had bad luck: a rugged early schedule, eight losses by one or two runs, a hamstring injury to outfielder Ender Inciarte. But even the veterans recognize that the major league team is not the priority now.

The average age of the Braves’ position players, according to Baseball-Reference, is 29.7 years, the oldest in the National League. The emphasis in the organization is on long-term assets that can lead to sustained success.

“They’ve made it fairly clear where they’re at,” said infielder Kelly Johnson, who compared the Braves to his previous team, the Mets, for their talent in the minors. “They had to treat it like a full-on rebuild from the bottom up, and it’s going to take time. Hopefully, guys force their hand and play out of their minds. They’ve already moved up the shortstops. Anytime you get guys competing and pushing each other, that’s what the team wants.”

Those shortstops — Ozzie Albies at Class AAA Gwinnett and Dansby Swanson at Class AA Mississippi — are part of a farm system that vaulted to third over all this spring from 29th in Baseball America’s 2015 rankings. The Braves got there largely by trading Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, Andrelton Simmons, Shelby Miller and several others.

Just four Braves are signed past 2017, including third baseman Hector Olivera, who is on the restricted list after he was arrested in April and charged with assaulting a woman. The others are right fielder Nick Markakis, starter Julio Teheran and first baseman Freddie Freeman, who have generally played well this season.

Freeman signed an eight-year, $135 million contract two years ago, making him the centerpiece of a franchise that abruptly pulled off the tablecloth. There was a personal toll, said Freeman, who was close friends with many of the traded players. But now he understands.

“I had to grasp the business side of it,” Freeman said. “I finally kind of got to see that this off-season, with the hauls we got for Shelby and Andrelton. It’s hard to see those guys go, because they were such a huge part of our team. But everything comes full circle when you start to see some guys get called up here who are going to help us long term.”

The right-hander Aaron Blair — who arrived from Arizona, with Swanson and Inciarte, in a trade for Miller — has pitched well in his first two starts, joining a rotation that includes Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz, who gave up three homers in the first inning Monday. Wisler came from San Diego in the Upton trade, and Foltynewicz from Houston in the Gattis deal.

Other top pitching prospects, like Sean Newcomb (who came from the Angels for Simmons) and Lucas Sims, are thriving in the minors.

“I think you see how the Mets kind of rebuilt the thing,” said Jeff Francoeur, a veteran outfielder. “And they’re trying to do the same thing here: Get a bunch of young pitchers. You can never have enough. Think about it: You get seven, eight, nine young pitchers, a few of them turn out to be a deGrom and a Syndergaard, and you never go on long losing streaks. Look at the Mets right now. There’s no way they’ll ever go on a long losing streak, because one of those guys is going to go out and throw a gem.”

The Braves, alas, have endured two long streaks: nine losses to start the season, and eight in a row from April 20 to 27. Gonzalez said the clubhouse had the right kind of veterans — Francoeur, catcher A. J. Pierzynski, reliever Jason Grilli and others — to keep the attitude upbeat.

The direction of the franchise has been set, and there is no deviating now.

“If anything, these struggles reinforce the belief system and core values that define our long-term vision,” said Coppolella, adding that his bosses had been through this before. “Ask any of the teams who have gone through similar processes — the Royals, Cubs, Pirates, Astros, Mets — and they would say, ‘Don’t lose sight of what’s important, no matter how difficult the adversity.’ ”

The Sports Xchange

Colon, Mets cruise past Braves

NEW YORK -- Bartolo Colon threw eight shutout innings Monday night to earn his 220th career victory — second all-time among pitchers born in the Dominican Republic — and the New York Mets hit three homers during a four-run first inning before cruising to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.

Colon allowed seven hits and walked none while striking out seven in breaking a second-place tie with Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. The all-time leader in wins by Dominican-born pitchers is Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, who earned 243 victories.

Colon, who turns 43 on May 24, notched the milestone victory in a fashion that has become his standard at an age when most of his peers are long since retired. He spotted a high-80s fastball in wriggling out of trouble in the first three innings, during which he allowed six hits but allowed only one runner as far as third base, before setting down 12 straight between the third and seventh.

He also exhibited his sneaky athleticism in the fifth, when he outraced Braves outfielder Mallex Smith -- who turns 23 this month and has stolen 229 bases as a professional -- to the bag on a groundout.

The Mets gave Colon all the support he'd need before he stepped to the plate in the first. In a four-batter span, David Wright homered, Michael Conforto singled, Yoenis Cespedes homered to left-center and Lucas Duda homered off advertising signage in right field.

Wright and Asdrubal Cabrera had two hits apiece for the Mets (16-8), who have won 12 of 14.

Erick Aybar spoiled the shutout with a two-out RBI single off Jeurys Familia in the ninth for the Braves (6-19), who have lost 10 of 12.

Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day, took the loss after allowing the four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 3 2/3 innings in his season debut.

NOTES: The Braves made a whopping seven roster moves Monday. In addition to recalling RHP Mike Foltynewicz from Triple-A Gwinnett to start against the Mets, Atlanta also selected the contracts of INF Reid Brignac, INF/OF Chase d'Arnaud and OF Matt Tuiasosopo from Gwinnett and optioned RHP John Gant and INF Jace Peterson to the same affiliate. In addition, OF Drew Stubbs was designated for assignment. ... Braves INF/OF Kelly Johnson and LHP Eric O'Flaherty, each of whom ended last season with the Mets, received their 2015 National League championship rings before batting practice. ... Mets RHP Logan Verrett's scoreless streak ended at 16 1/3 innings Sunday. It spanned two starts and five relief appearances. ... Mets 2B Neil Walker is the only New York player to start all 24 games.

Associated Press

Mets hit 3 home runs in 1st, Colon coasts past Braves 4-1

By BEN WALKER (AP Baseball Writer)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lucas Duda and the New York Mets gladly got into a game of home run derby with the Atlanta Braves.

David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Duda hit loud homers in the first inning as the Mets teed off to back Bartolo Colon, beating Atlanta 4-1 on Monday night for their ninth win in 10 games.

''Everybody kind of clicked together,'' Duda said.

The Mets' homer barrage came in a span of 16 pitches. The Braves have hit just five homers all season, by far the fewest in the majors for the team with the worst record in the big leagues.

A few weeks shy of his 43rd birthday, Colon (2-1) pitched eight scoreless innings. He coasted to his 220th career victory, breaking a tie with Pedro Martinez for the second-most among Dominican-born pitchers and trailing only the 243 by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.

''It's pretty neat to pass Pedro,'' Colon through a translator. ''He'll always be one of the big ones.''

Colon gave up seven hits, six in the first three innings, walked none and struck out seven. He threw 99 pitches - 77 strikes - in the longest outing by a Mets starter this year. He was 4-0 against Atlanta last season.

Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) came up from Triple-A as the Braves reshuffled their roster, making seven moves. The 24-year-old right-hander had been out of the majors since potentially life-threatening blood clots were found in his right shoulder late last season. He later had surgery to remove part of a rib.

''I don't want to look at that as an excuse, this is my first time back off a blood clot or anything,'' he said.

''I was ready. I was ready for this game. It was probably the best I've felt all year coming in to the game,'' he said.

A day after they were shut down by Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, the Mets made it a rough return for Foltynewicz. They hit three homers in the first inning for the first time since April 13, 2006, the Elias Sports Bureau said, when Carlos Beltran, Wright and Cliff Floyd did it at Washington against Livan Hernandez.

''We were able to take advantage of a young pitcher,'' Cespedes said through a translator.

Wright connected with one out and Michael Confortosingled. Cespedes, who had a golf club stretched across his locker before the game, then launched a long drive to left-center for his eighth home run. Duda followed with a liner off the facing of the second deck in right.

When Asdrubal Cabrera doubled later in the inning, Foltynewicz walked with his head down to back up the play. With two outs and two on, Colon hooked a hard shot just foul down the left field line.

''I don't think I've ever hit a ball as hard as that,'' Colon said.

From the dugout, Mets manager Terry Collins thought it might land fair, allowing the portly Colon to run for an extra-base hit.

''I wasn't sure how many extra bases,'' Collins kidded.

Overall, the Mets have outscored opponents 21-3 in the first inning this season.

Cespedes has been on a recent tear with 16 RBIs in eight games. He's helped the Mets homer 34 times in their last 16 games.

Foltynewicz was pulled when Cespedes came up with two on and two outs in the fourth.

RINGS-N-THINGS

Braves utilityman Kelly Johnson and reliever Eric O'Flaherty got their 2015 NL championship rings from Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon before the game. Johnson was traded from Atlanta to the Mets last July and wound up playing in the World Series. O'Flaherty didn't pitch in the postseason.

SLUGGING STATS

Cespedes hit his 25th home run since joining the Mets last July. He reached the mark in 77 games, topping the previous fastest pace of 88 games by Carlos Delgado. ... The Mets have homered back-to-back five times this year, most in the majors. ... The Mets also hit three homers in an inning at Cleveland last month.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: 2B Reid Brignac was hit in the face when Wright's grounder deflected off second base and skipped up. Brignac was examined and stayed in. He was promoted from Triple-A before the game.

UP NEXT

Mets RHP Matt Harvey (2-3, 4.76) faces RHP Matt Wisler (0-2, 4.26). Harvey lost his first three starts this season before winning at Turner Field on April 22. Wisler beat the Mets in his big league debut last June with eight sharp innings.

Last-place Braves reshuffle roster, make 7 moves

By BEN WALKER (AP Baseball Writer)

NEW YORK (AP) -- The last-place Atlanta Braves reshuffled their roster Monday night, making seven moves while trying to boost a punchless lineup.

The Braves went into the series opener against the New York Mets with a 6-18 record that was the worst in the majors.

They also ranked last in the big leagues in home runs (5), batting average (.226) and slugging percentage (.287) and had scored the fewest runs in the NL (79).

''I don't think it's a desperation move,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to face the Mets. The 24-year-old was 1-2 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts in the minors.

Infielder Reid Brignac, infielder/outfielder Chase d'Arnaud and outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo also were promoted from Triple-A. The 30-year-old Brignac, who has played parts of eight seasons in the majors, was in the starting lineup vs. Mets, batting sixth and playing second base.

D'Arnaud is the brother of Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who's currently on the disabled list. Tuiasosopo has been out of the majors since 2013.

Infielder/outfielder Jace Peterson and righty John Gant were optioned to Triple-A and outfielder Drew Stubbs was designated for assignment.

Stubbs hit .237 with one homer and three RBIs in 38 at-bats.

''Drew Stubbs, we needed a right-handed bat off the bench,'' Gonzalez said. ''We gave him an opportunity. And he's a great makeup guy. It's hard. But now you bring in Brignac and bring in Chase, we feel good.''

Peterson, who turns 26 next week, hit .182 with four RBIs in 20 games.

''Jace Peterson, you sit back and talk to the coaches, sit back and look at him, you go, are we doing this guy any good at the end of the day. Him sitting out there, playing once a twice a week, is it doing him any good, doing us any good? So we sent him out,'' Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he called Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker on Sunday to let him know some moves were coming. And to apologize, telling him: ''You may not have a team to fill here tonight after we get done.''

In recent years, clubs such as the Astros, Cubs and Mets have been able to reverse their fortunes. With the Braves set to move into a new stadium next year and a couple of top prospects in the minor league system, Gonzalez said he hoped a turnaround was in Atlanta's future.

''It gives you hope, it really does. When you see the young people coming up, you're seeing the talent. It gives the fans hope, too,'' he said.

''It's a trust the fans have got to give our front office. I've got to trust our office,'' he said. ''We had a plan. We kept the plan, and continued doing the plan, like those teams you mentioned, and you'll see the fruits here shortly.''

Braves-Mets Preview

By KEVIN MASSOTH (STATS Writer)

The New York Mets' first-inning outburst reinforced their recent dominance over the Atlanta Braveswhile accentuating this season's power disparity between the two.

The Mets hope to stretch their home run differential over baseball's worst team on Tuesday night when they go for their fifth straight win over the visiting Braves.

New York (16-8) failed to homer for just the second time in a dozen games in Sunday's 6-1 loss to San Francisco, ending an eight-game winning streak. The first inning of Monday's opener against Atlanta (6-19) made up for the brief power outage.

David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda all went deep in a span of 16 pitches, and Bartolo Colon held down the light-hitting Braves for a 4-1 win - New York's ninth in 11 games in this series.

"I definitely think we are pretty hot right now," Cespedes told MLB's official website through an interpreter. "But I think we really have the potential in this lineup to be hitting those kind of home runs throughout the whole season."

The homers, which were part of five straight hits that included Michael Conforto's single and a double from Asdrubal Cabrera, moved the Mets' total to 36. It was the first time they have hit three homers in the first inning since April 13, 2006.

Absurdly, they were also more than the Braves have in their last 20 games.

Atlanta's five home runs are 12 fewer than the next closest team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves are averaging a NL-low 3.20 runs with a .228/.297/.289 slash line, and they have gone deep just twice since April 10.

After New York opened with two home runs in its first eight games, it has 34 in the last 16. Cespedes has seven while hitting .326 with 22 RBIs in his last 12 games.

The Mets, who scored a record 12 runs in one inning last week, have back-to-back homers on five occasions, most in the majors. They hit three in an inning last month in Cleveland.

The Braves are tasked with reversing their hitting woes against Matt Harvey, who gutted through five innings in a 6-3 win on April 22 during New York's three-game sweep in Atlanta.

Harvey (2-3, 4.76 ERA) needed 101 pitches but held the Braves to a pair of runs and seven hits. He has a 2.92 ERA in four career starts against them, allowing just one home run and striking out 26 in 24 2/3 innings.

No current Braves have homered in the matchup, and Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis are a combined 0 for 14 with five strikeouts.

Atlanta's Matt Wisler (0-2, 4.26) made his MLB debut against the Mets on June 19, allowing six hits and one run in eight innings - en route to a 2-1 mark and 2.14 ERA in three 2015 starts against them.

Conforto went 3 for 6 in the matchup, while Cespedes was 2 for 6 with a double and Wright had a home run in six at-bats.

Wisler allowed four runs in the first inning of last Tuesday's 11-4 loss to Boston before settling down and allowing just one over the next four frames. Ten of the 12 earned runs the right-hander has surrendered have come in three innings.

The Braves made seven moves this week, calling up Mike Foltynewicz, Reid Brignac, Matt Tuiasosopo and Chase d'Arnaud - brother of injured New York catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Jace Peterson and John Gant were optioned to Triple-A Gwinett and Drew Stubbs was designated for assignment.

''I don't think it's a desperation move,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''It gives you hope, it really does. When you see the young people coming up, you're seeing the talent. It gives the fans hope, too."