The Braves are 1 away from the total without a hit, but still lead the Mets

NEW YORK — The Atlanta Braves were one out away from pitching their first no-hitter in 30 years Saturday at Citi Field.

Max Fried had spearheaded the effort, overcoming unusual command issues in seven innings. Joe Jimenez had been playing with fire in the eighth but kept the no-hitter intact. Finally, closer, Raisel Iglesias secured the first two outs of the ninth to bring up JD Martinez.

One throw later, the no-no was over.

Martinez, the Mets’ veteran designated hitter, pounced on a fastball from Iglesias’ first pitch, throwing it over the right-center field wall for a solo home run to spoil the no-hit bid. The exploits marked Martinez’s first home run as a Met and briefly sparked a comatose attack. But Iglesias, after allowing two runners to reach base, finally recorded the 27th out to seal Atlanta’s 4-1 victory.

The Braves have gone without a hit since Kent Mercer accomplished the feat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 1994. It is the fourth-longest drought in the major leagues – an odd fact for a franchise that has employee of leading players. pitching for much of the last three decades.

Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco’s gem last month remains the only no-hitter in the majors this season.

“We didn’t want to go hitless,” Martinez said. “But in this situation, in this moment, I’m just thinking about my plan, my game and what I’m trying to do in this battle against Iglesias. You can’t get caught up in all that. Then , you start putting all this undue pressure on yourself for what? You’re not going to get any hits?

After the game, Iglesias said he didn’t know the Braves were one out away from ending the drought.

“When the game ended and I walked into the clubhouse, they asked me if I knew there was no hit,” Iglesias said. “I really didn’t know.”

Fried logged the first seven innings for Atlanta, compiling five strikeouts and three walks, before being retired with a game-high 109 pitches. For Braves manager Brian Snitker, removing Fried from the game was an easy decision.

“It’s tough to throw a no-hitter,” Snitker said. “We’ve had a long season. It’s more about winning the game than not getting a hit.”

Two of Fried’s three walks came in the third inning before striking out Starling Marte to extinguish the threat. The Mets managed to put just one more runner in scoring position before the ninth inning, when Jimenez walked two batters in the eighth. He got out of trouble by striking out Tyrone Taylor and Marte.

The Mets came close to breaking through against Fried on several occasions. In the second inning, Pete Alonso crushed a pitch 104.9 mph off the tee and 405 feet to center field, which would have been a home run in six big league ballparks. Instead, it was a plane. Moments later, Martinez hit a 105.6 mph line drive against third baseman Austin Riley for the second out of the inning.

Martinez nearly delivered the Mets’ first hit again in the seventh inning when, after Alonso drew a walk, he lined a ball 408 feet to center field. Michael Harris II caught what would have been a home run about 12 furlongs down the warning track before crashing into the wall. Fried then struck out Jeff McNeil with his 109th pitch to end his outing.

“Especially at this part of the season and having the big picture of what we want to do, throwing 140 or 150 pitches might not be the best thing,” Fried said. “So you always have to keep things in perspective and know that if I want to give myself that opportunity, I have to be a lot more economical with my pitch count and just more efficient in my attacks against hitters.”

New York’s offense was dealt a major blow when leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo left the game after the fourth inning with what the Mets called “right intercostal irritation.” Nimmo flied out and walked in both of his plate appearances before leaving.

Nimmo said he doesn’t expect to go on the injured list and hopes he plays in the series finale Sunday night.