Major League Baseball

Wisler shines in debut as Braves beat deGrom, Mets 2-1

Published Jun. 19, 2015 10:11 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA (AP) Backed by a big hit from his former Triple-A roommate, Matt Wisler enjoyed a major league debut that ranked with the best in Atlanta history.

Wisler allowed only one run in eight innings to outpitch Jacob deGrom, and Jace Peterson hit a two-run double in the eighth to lift the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets on Friday night.

''At no point did he ever look out of place or intimidated by the moment,'' Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski said of Wisler.

Even Wisler was surprised the nerves he felt warming up before the game didn't follow him to the mound.

''I honestly felt more calm than I probably should have,'' Wisler said, adding ultimately it felt like ''another game.''

The only other pitcher in Atlanta history to pitch at least eight innings and allow only one run or less in his debut was John Smoltz, who also held the Mets to one run in eight innings on July 23, 1988.

Wisler (1-0) allowed six hits and walked none. The NL East-leading Mets' only run off Wisler came on Michael Cuddyer's run-scoring single in the sixth.

''For my big league debut, to have a night like that was unbelievable,'' Wisler said.

Wisler and Peterson came to the Braves from the Padres in separate offseason trades. Wisler was San Diego's top prospect before coming to the Braves as a big part of the April 5 trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the Padres.

Wisler and Peterson were Triple-A teammates in the San Diego organization. Wisler, 22, was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game.

''We talked when I got here,'' Wisler said. ''He promised to get me a couple runs.''

Until the eighth inning, deGrom (7-5) was dominant on his 27th birthday. He allowed two runs and four hits, including two in the eighth.

After deGrom departed, left-hander Sean Gilmartin gave up Peterson's two-run double over the head of Juan Lagares in center field.

The Mets have scored a combined two runs in three straight losses, dropping their lead over second-place Washington to a half-game.

''We've gotten some very good pitching,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''We just aren't scoring runs.''

Andrelton Simmons, who had a second-inning single for Atlanta's first hit, led off the eighth with a double to left field. One out later, pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco's infield hit left runners at first and third. Peterson gave Atlanta the lead with his double off Gilmartin.

DeGrom took his first loss since May 11.

Ruben Tejada led off the sixth with a double to left field and moved to third on Lucas Duda's fly ball to right. Cuddyer's grounder took a high bounce over Chris Johnson at third base for a run-scoring single.

It was the only inning Wisler allowed more than one baserunner.

ROSTER MOVE

Right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon was optioned to Gwinnett to clear a spot for Wisler.

SAVE FOR GRILLI

Jason Grilli pitched the ninth for his 19th save. With one out, Wilmer Flores reached on third baseman Juan Uribe's fielding error. With Flores still on first, Grilli struck out pinch-hitter Darrell Ceciliani to end the game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler, out for the season following Tommy John surgery, is from the Atlanta area and traveled from Florida to be with the team. Wheeler said his rehab has been slow and he hopes that starting to throw next month ''will speed up the process a little bit.''

Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman (sprained left wrist) missed his second straight start, but was ''a lot better'' and available as a defensive replacement, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez.

UP NEXT

Mets: Rookie RHP Noah Syndergaard, 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA in three road starts, will look for his first win away from New York when he faces the Braves on Saturday night. Syndergaard is 2-4 overall with a 3.76 ERA.

Braves: Atlanta also will start a rookie as RHP Williams Perez (3-0, 2.29) looks to continue his string of strong starts. Perez threw six scoreless innings in a win at Boston on Monday.

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