A five-run eruption in the eighth inning lifted the Mets to a 6-3 triumph over the Braves. With the score tied, 1-1, the Mets opened the eighth with a double by Doug Flynn, but the threat seemed stilled when pinch-hitter Gil Flores bunted and Flynn was thrown out at third.

However, Frank Taveras followed with a safe bunt and Alex Trevino singled to drive in Flores. Taveras also scored on a wild throw by Braves' outfielder Barry Bonnell. Lee Mazzilli walked and on a bunt by John Stearns, Trevino beat the throw to the plate. Joel Youngblood then doubled, driving in Mazzilli and Stearns. [The Sporting News]



New York Mets 6, Atlanta Braves 3
Game Played on Thursday, August    16, 1979 (Night game) at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Mets         0  0  0    0  1  0    0  5  0  -   6  8  0
Braves       0  0  0    0  1  0    0  2  0  -   3 12  1


Mets                 AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Braves               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Taveras ss            5   1   1   0     0   1   .261      Royster 2b            3   1   2   1     2   0   .266
Trevino c             4   1   1   1     0   0   .319      Matthews rf           5   0   2   0     0   0   .307
Mazzilli cf           2   1   0   0     2   1   .316      Burroughs lf          5   0   2   1     0   1   .224
Stearns 3b            3   1   1   1     0   1   .252      Horner 3b             5   0   2   0     0   0   .329
  Ferrer 3b           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000      Murphy 1b             4   1   1   0     1   1   .283
Youngblood lf         4   0   2   2     0   0   .292      Bonnell cf            4   1   1   0     0   0   .260
Cardenal 1b           4   1   1   1     0   0   .238        Office ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .260
Norman rf             4   0   0   0     0   1   .171      Frias ss              4   0   1   0     1   1   .284
  Glynn p             0   0   0   0     0   0   .000      Benedict c            3   0   1   1     1   0   .213
  Allen p             0   0   0   0     0   0   .000      Niekro p              3   0   0   0     0   0   .189
Flynn 2b              4   0   2   0     0   0   .248        Spikes ph           1   0   0   0     0   1   .284
Falcone p             1   0   0   0     0   1   .222        Garber p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .333
  Flores ph,rf        2   1   0   0     0   0   .169

Totals               33   6   8   5     2   5             Totals               38   3  12   3     5   4

Time of Game: 2:37   Attendance:  7,397
Left on Base: Mets 4, Braves 13
DP: Mets 1, Braves 1
Errors: Bonnell
Doubles: Flynn (16), Youngblood (29)
Triples: Stearns (2)
Home Runs: Cardenal (2)
Stolen Bases: Mazzilli (24), Matthews (14)
Sacrifice Hits: Falcone (3), Stearns (2)
GIDP: Bonnell (9)


Mets                   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Falcone W(4-9)          7     7   1   1   4   1   0  31   4.55
Glynn                   0     2   2   2   1   0   0   3   2.45
Allen SV(5)             2     3   0   0   0   3   0   9   3.65
Totals                  9    12   3   3   5   4   0  43

Braves                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro L(15-16)         8     8   6   6   2   5   1  34   3.74
Garber                  1     0   0   0   0   0   0   3   4.34
Totals                  9     8   6   6   2   5   1  37

Umpires: HP - Fred Brocklander, 1B - Satch Davidson, 2B - Ed Vargo, 3B - Jim Quick


METS 1ST: Taveras popped to catcher in foul territory; Trevino
grounded out (second to first); Mazzilli struck out (catcher to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 1ST: Royster walked; Matthews grounded out (first
unassisted) [Royster to second]; Burroughs struck out; Horner
flied out to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

METS 2ND: Stearns made an out to first; Youngblood grounded out
(third to first); Cardenal flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 2ND: Murphy grounded out (shortstop to first); Bonnell
grounded out (shortstop to first); Frias flied out to left; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

METS 3RD: Norman was called out on strikes; Flynn singled to
right; Falcone out on a sacrifice bunt (first to second) [Flynn
to second]; Taveras struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 0,
Braves 0.

BRAVES 3RD: Benedict walked; Niekro popped to first; Royster
singled to right [Benedict to second]; Matthews flied out to
right; Burroughs flied to right in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 2 LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

METS 4TH: Trevino grounded out (shortstop to first); Mazzilli
lined to pitcher; Stearns tripled to right; Youngblood made an
out to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 0, Braves 0.

BRAVES 4TH: Horner singled to left; Murphy walked [Horner to
second]; Bonnell grounded into a double play (shortstop to
second to first) [Horner to third, Murphy out at second]; Frias
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets
0, Braves 0.

METS 5TH: Cardenal homered; Norman grounded out (second to
first); Flynn grounded out (shortstop to first); Falcone struck
out; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Mets 1, Braves 0.

BRAVES 5TH: Benedict flied out to left; Niekro flied out to
center; Royster walked; Matthews singled to right [Royster to
third]; Burroughs singled to left [Royster scored, Matthews to
second]; Matthews stole third; Horner flied to left in foul
territory; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Mets 1, Braves 1.

METS 6TH: Taveras grounded out (first unassisted); Trevino flied
out to center; Mazzilli walked; Mazzilli stole second; Stearns
was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 1, Braves
1.

BRAVES 6TH: Murphy grounded out (shortstop to first); Bonnell
flied out to center; Frias singled to center; Benedict singled
to left [Frias to second]; Niekro popped to third; 0 R, 2 H, 0
E, 2 LOB.  Mets 1, Braves 1.

METS 7TH: Youngblood singled to left; Cardenal flied out to
right; Norman hit into a double play (right to first)
[Youngblood out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Mets 1,
Braves 1.

BRAVES 7TH: Royster grounded out (third to first); Matthews
flied out to center; Burroughs singled to center; Horner made an
out to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 1, Braves 1.

METS 8TH: Flynn doubled to right; FLORES BATTED FOR FALCONE;
Flores reached on a fielder's choice [Flynn out at third
(pitcher to third)]; On a bunt Taveras singled to third [Flores
to second]; Trevino singled to center [Flores scored, Taveras
scored (error by Bonnell) (no RBI), Trevino to third]; Mazzilli
walked; Stearns reached on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice
bunt [Trevino scored, Mazzilli to second]; Youngblood doubled to
center [Mazzilli scored, Stearns scored]; Cardenal flied out to
left [Youngblood to third]; Norman grounded out (shortstop to
first); 5 R, 4 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 6, Braves 1.

BRAVES 8TH: FLORES STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING RF); GLYNN REPLACED
NORMAN (PITCHING); Murphy singled to left; Bonnell singled to
left [Murphy to second]; Frias walked [Murphy to third, Bonnell
to second]; ALLEN REPLACED GLYNN (PITCHING); Benedict forced
Frias (third to second) [Murphy scored, Bonnell to third];
SPIKES BATTED FOR NIEKRO; Spikes struck out; Royster singled to
center [Bonnell scored, Benedict to second]; Matthews singled to
left [Benedict to third, Royster to second]; Burroughs flied out
to center; 2 R, 4 H, 0 E, 3 LOB.  Mets 6, Braves 3.

METS 9TH: GARBER REPLACED SPIKES (PITCHING); Flynn grounded out
(second to first); Flores grounded out (shortstop to first);
Taveras grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
 Mets 6, Braves 3.

BRAVES 9TH: FERRER REPLACED STEARNS (PLAYING 3B); Horner singled
to left; Murphy was called out on strikes; OFFICE BATTED FOR
BONNELL; Office flied out to center; Frias was called out on
strikes; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Mets 6, Braves 3.