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 Colon, who turns 41 in May, did not allow a runner past second
base over seven innings as the Mets spoiled the Atlanta Braves' home
opener and the Aaron festivities with a 4-0 victory Tuesday night
before an announced sellout crowd of 47,144 at Turner Field.
"Talk about moving the ball around the strike zone, he was really,
really good tonight," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He pitched
in, he pitched out. He pitched down, he pitched up. He gave them a
different look no matter what he was throwing."
Colon allowed six hits, walked none and struck out five, throwing 70
of his 101 pitches for strikes while improving to 1-1 in his first
season with the Mets after signing a two-year, $20 million deal as a
free agent.
"They know I throw a lot of strikes, so they swing a lot and that
helps me," Colon said.
Atlanta gave the Mets a late scare, though. The Braves loaded the
bases against Jose Valverde in the ninth on two hits and the
reliever's throwing error, but right fielder Jason Heyward flew out
to the warning track in center field to end the game.
"It was an exciting ninth inning, but we won it," Collins said.
"I knew I just missed it," Heyward said. "Good at-bat. I'd like to
be in that spot every time."
It was the fourth victory in as many starts for Colon against the
Braves, but the previous three had come in 2002 when the native of
the Dominican Republic was pitching for the old Montreal Expos
during his only previous National League stint.
Colon was 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA for Oakland last season and has a
190-129 career record over 17 seasons with eight teams.
"When you face a tough team like Atlanta, you have to prepare very
well mentally," Colon said. "I did that."
Aaron Harang, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his
first start for the Braves while winning 1-0 at Milwaukee last
Wednesday, was almost as good against the Mets as he allowed just
two hits in six innings.
The only run off Harang this season came without the benefit of a
hit in the third as the 34-year-old right-hander walked two and
bounced a wild pitch past catcher Evan Gattis.
Harang, who finished last season with the Mets, struck out nine,
including five in a row from the fourth through five innings, and
walked four before leaving after 110 pitches.
"I don't think you can ask for much more than that," Braves manager
Fredi Gonzalez said of Harang's two outings.
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The Mets gave Colon a cushion in the seventh. Rookie catcher Travis
d'Arnaud, who had been 0-for-16 before singling in the fourth
inning, led off with a double, and shortstop Ruben Tejada and left
fielder Eric Young Jr. followed with run-scoring singles.
Tejada had another RBI single in the eighth inning after Collins
successfully challenged an out call at first base on center fielder
Juan Lagares. Collins is 2-0 on challenges this season, both plays
involving Lagares.
Young and Tejada each had two hits and a walk, and Young had two of
the Mets' three stolen bases.
The Braves wore throwback uniforms in honor of Aaron, whose record
of 755 homers over 23 seasons was eventually bettered by Barry
Bonds.
Al Downing, who gave up Aaron's 715th homer while with the Los
Angeles Dodgers, was on hand as part of the anniversary, as well as
former Braves teammates Phil Niekro, Dusty Baker and Ralph Garr.
The 80-year-old Aaron, who broke a hip in January and uses a walker,
followed commissioner Bud Selig to the microphone and concluded the
half-hour ceremony by thanking Braves fans for their long support.
"You were here cheering for me then and you're here again now,"
Aaron said. "Thank you for being in my corner all these years."
NOTES: RHP Bobby Parnell, the Mets' closer, had Tommy John surgery
on Tuesday in New York to replace the partially torn MCL in his
elbow and will be sidelined until next season. ... RHP Cory Gearrin
of the Braves is headed to Tommy John surgery. The reliever has a
torn MCL, and will join RHP Kris Medlen and RHP Brandon Beachy in
missing the season. ... Braves LHP Luis Avilan had to leave after
facing two batters in seventh inning with a left hamstring cramp.
...C Evan Gattis returned to the Braves lineup after sitting out the
weekend series in Washington with flu-like symptoms. ... RHP Ervin
Santana, signed midway in spring training as a free agent after
Medlen and Beachy went down, will make his Braves debut Wednesday
night in the middle game of the series. ... RHP Zack Wheeler will
start for the Mets after going 3-0 against the Braves as a rookie
last year.
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