Mets Lose Walker to Back Spasm, Dropped by Braves Again
BRAVES 5 – METS 0
The Mets are not enjoying their trip to Atlanta so far. After two games down in the ATL, New York has dropped two games by a combined score of 18-1, and have lost two starting pitchers in the process. First it was Carlos Carrasco, who left Monday’s game with a low grade left strained oblique muscle and is out 4-6 weeks. Now it is Taijuan Walker, who left Tuesday’s 5-0 loss after the second inning with back spasms.
Walker injured his back while trying to cover first base in the bottom of the second inning, when he felt the tug. He will be further evaluated.
“I tried to bend over. When I tried to come back up, it just locked up on me,” Walker said. “I’ve never had anything like this before. The training staff is not too concerned about it. So I’ll get an MRI tomorrow and kind of see how I feel.”
"The training staff isn't too concerned about it. I'll get an MRI tomorrow and see how I feel"
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2022
Taijuan Walker discusses his injury: pic.twitter.com/jb3w9yRkkK
This ball should land in South Carolina sometime next week. @mattolson21 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/NFvPpSLpi2
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 17, 2022
The Mets were forced to go to R.J. Alvarez, whom they called up from the minors due to the flurry of injuries, and the righty struggled. He gave up home runs to Robbie Grossman and Matt Olson as Atlanta built a 3-0 lead.
The Mets best chance to tie the game came in the seventh inning with two men aboard and two out, but Jeff McNeil struck out looking against reliever Dylan Lee. Lee had come in for Charlie Morton, who dominated the Mets over 6.2 innings, where he struck out 12 and allowed three hits.
The Mets hope to stop the bleeding tonight when it sends Max Scherzer to the mound this evening.