Niese, Mets shut out Braves

There should be no explanation because the Mets have that 6-½ game lead, and the official divisional clincher could come in Cincinnati, or next week in one of the three games at Philadelphia. The Braves have scored eight runs in their last three games and three or less runs in seven of their last 10 games.

Atlanta Braves starter Shelby Miller pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, September 21, 2015, in New York.

The Mets have lost five of seven games but retained a commanding 6 ½-game lead over Washington with 11 to play.

Terry Collins doesn’t care about awards, but Fredi Gonzalez thinks the Mets manager should be rewarded by the team for the work he has done this season.

The Mets had won five in a row against Atlanta, and Wright put them ahead again with a solo homer in the first. It was his sixth homer of the season and first since August. 3.

But other than Daniel Murphy’s two doubles, New York rarely dented Wisler in finishing 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. “You have a tough game, they have the knack and the know-how to say, look, you know what, it’s my time to get this done”.

Mets star Yoenis Cespedes made no forward progress when he struck out in the fourth.

Plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth was hit flush in the right knee – on the fly – with Dan Winkler’s first major league pitch in the bottom of the eighth.

Collins has told those close to him that he would like to be back for 2016.

Following that dominant outing against the Marlins, Miller has not claimed a single victory in 23 starts. (1) trying to steal during the eighth inning at Turner Field on Sunday. In his last 8 1-3 innings, Clippard has given up nine runs. Verrett took the loss Tuesday after giving up four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings as the Mets fell to the Braves, 6-2. Miller has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 23 empty starts. This one is a big win for us.

Unlike New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey, left-hander Jonathon Niese spends no time managing his public image or becoming embroiled in innings limit debates engendered by his agent.

“Obviously I’ve had some ups and downs”, Miller said.

“I don’t think we’re tight”, said Wright. “We play the game to win”. David Wright energized the dugout and crowd with a turn-back-the-clock drive over the right-center field fence for a 1-0 lead. Braves RF Nick Markakis returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore trapezius. He should be available Tuesday, Collins said…. Righty reliever Carlos Torres is slowed by a strained left calf. But he was feeling better and should be ready to play Tuesday, Gonzalez said.

His three best starts this season have been against division leaders: the Mets (twice) and the Cardinals. “Do the right thing”.

Wisler improved to 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts against the Mets, the only team he’s beaten more than once and the lowest ERA he’s posted against any of the 13 teams he’s faced.

Olivera blasted a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning to support a strong outing by Matt Wisler in a 6-2 win over the Mets. His lone career save came this year vs. the Mets.