ATLANTA — Seth Lugo is the Mets’ version of a “bend, but don’t break” defense.
The rookie righty, who has shown an adeptness at escaping trouble over his brief major league career, faced another pivotal moment in Sunday’s fourth inning against the Braves. Lugo allowed four straight hits to begin the inning, only to escape with one run surrendered.
Overall, Lugo surrendered two earned runs on six hits and one walk over seven innings in the Mets’ 10-3 victory at Turner Field. In the fourth he retired Anthony Recker and got Dansby Swanson to hit into a double play with the bases loaded to escape trouble.
“I gave up a few hits, but they were all good pitches and they just found holes,” Lugo said. “I just told myself not to try to do more than I was doing. They were quality pitches and I wanted to keep making those pitches.
“I’m just starting to figure that out. In my minor league career I tried to throw too hard or making too good of pitches and then I ended up falling behind and then I would end up coming back over the plate with guys in scoring position.”
Lugo won his fourth straight start — a stretch in which he’s compiled a 1.80 ERA.
“This guy has a feel for pitching,” manager Terry Collins said. “He knows how to get a ground ball to help him get out of trouble, which some pitchers need to learn it. And Seth Lugo I think has a feel for it.”
Steven Matz likely will throw a second bullpen session on Monday, according to Collins, increasing from his 20-pitch workload Saturday.
The rookie needs to reach 35-40 pitches before the Mets consider a next step.
The Mets wore FDNY and NYPD caps during pregame, which included a ceremony commemorating 9/11. The Braves had a video tribute of Mike Piazza’s dramatic homer on Sept. 11, 2001 in the first game played in New York following the terrorist attacks.
Following the tribute, both teams greeted each other and shook hands, reminiscent of the night at Shea Stadium.
Gavin Cecchini made his major league debut in the eighth inning, striking out as a pinch hitter. Cecchini joined Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto to give the Mets three former first-round draft picks participating in the same game.