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Baty’s First Bomb Comes as Mets Bats Awaken in ATL

Two weeks ago Brett Baty was taking swings at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in a series against the Somerset Patriots. Last night he was…

Brett Baty

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 17: Brett Baty #22 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates after hitting his first home run during his first MLB at bat against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)

Two weeks ago Brett Baty was taking swings at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in a series against the Somerset Patriots. Last night he was taking his cuts in a Mets uniform for the Major League squad down in Atlanta, and in his first official Major League at bat, the lanky left-handed hitter crushed a two-run homer that put the Mets up 4-0.

"I was just looking for a pitch to drive. It was awesome," Baty said. "I felt pure joy in order to help this team out and look up and see my family there."

Baty was promoted Monday after a flurry of injuries for the Mets. Baty has been hitting well all year. He hit .316 at Double-A Binghamton and .367 in Triple-A.

Meanwhile the rest of the Mets played a big role in the much needed victory. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Francisco Lindor went deep in the first inning as the Mets built a 6-1 lead through the top of the seventh inning.

Max Scherzer was solid once again for the Amazin's but ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh after giving up another run on a fielder's choice to Vaughn Grissom. With two runners aboard, Scherzer came out of the game for Adam Ottavino, who served up a three run bomb to Robbie Grossman to cut the Mets lead down to a run, 6-5.

After Edwin Diaz pitched a shutout eighth inning to keep the Mets in front 6-5, New York went right to work, tacking on runs when Pete Alonso and Daniel Voglebach went back-to-back with RBI base hits. Alonso had a two-run single that pushed the Mets lead to 8-5. Voglebach's double, scored Alonso to make it 9-5.

With the victory, the Mets increase their lead over Atlanta back to 4.5 games in the NL East.  The Mets send Jacob deGrom to the hill tonight.

Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.