DeGrom strikes out 10, Mets sweep Braves

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves were knocked out of the playoff race Sunday after a stunning late-season collapse, losing to Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets 10-2.

A half-game out of first place in the NL East on July 29, the Braves have gone 18-30 since then to fall 15 back of Washington. Atlanta was eliminated from the wild-card chase when Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee 1-0 earlier Sunday.

The Braves lost for the 14th time in 18 September games as deGrom struck out 10 in six innings to extend his impressive streak since June 21.

In his last start, de Grom (9-6) tied the single-game major league record by striking out his first eight batters. Against Atlanta, the shaggy-haired right-hander struck out eight of the first 11 batters he faced.

DeGrom allowed three hits, three walks and two runs - one earned - as he threw 63 of 100 pitches for strikes. In his last 15 starts, the rookie is 9-2 with a 1.90 ERA over 99 1-3 innings.

DeGrom also used his bat, earning his second career RBI with a squeeze bunt that put New York ahead 6-2 in the sixth.

Light-hitting Atlanta dropped to 8-60 when scoring two runs or less and got swept for the seventh time this year in a series of three or more games.

The Mets went up in the first on Daniel Murphy's RBI groundout and 2-0 in the second on Tejada's sacrifice fly.

They led 5-0 in the fourth when Curtis Granderson scored on Christian Bethancourt's passed ball, Anthony Recker had a sacrifice fly and Tejada hit his fourth homer.

Braves starter Ervin Santana (14-10) gave up six hits and five runs with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

Atlanta made it 5-2 in the fifth. Justin Upton scored when Andrelton Simmons reached on shortstop Tejada's fielding error and Emilio Bonifacio drew a walk.

But DeGrom, who faced eight batters in the inning, struck out Phil Gosselin to leave the bases loaded.

Atlanta ranks second-worst in the majors in runs scored and third in NL strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon (14-12) is 2-4 with a 3.07 ERA in six career starts against Washington. The NL East champion Nationals begin a three-game series in New York on Tuesday.

Braves: RHP Aaron Harang (11-11) is 16-7 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 career starts against Pittsburgh. The Pirates open a four-game series Monday at Turner Field.

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