Atlanta Braves starter Aaron Harang pitched seven scoreless no-hit innings against the New York Mets, but the Braves bullpen couldn’t keep the no-no intact.

Agencies/New York


Aaron Harang didn’t allow a hit for seven innings but was pulled after 121 pitches, and reliever Luis Avilan gave up David Wright’s two-out single in the eighth as the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 6-0 on Friday.
“It wasn’t that tough of a decision, really,’’ Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
As Harang’s pitch count increased on a chilly evening, it seemed doubtful he would go the distance. Harang walked six, including two in the sixth inning and another pair in the seventh. “I know how it works,’’ he said.
In 2011, in his first start for San Diego after missing a month because of a foot injury, he pitched no-hit ball for six innings and was taken out after 95 pitches.
Harang retired the first two Mets batters in the seventh, then went to full counts on the next three. He threw 23 pitches in the inning.
“If I’m through eight, I’m going back out,’’ Harang said.
Harang (3-1) left for a pinch hitter during a long, four-run eighth. He was never in the on-deck circle - the decision had already been made.
Gonzalez had Harang’s health in mind. The 35-year-old righty said he fought his manager, but not much. “I know it’s probably the hardest decision he’s ever going to have to make,’’ Harang said. “He reiterated multiple times, ‘Man, I hate doing that.’’’
Gonzalez said it wasn’t quite that difficult.
“I want him pitching 27 more times,’’ Gonzalez said. ‘’If it was the ninth inning, maybe, think about it.’’
“It gets to the point you chase that no-hitter, chase that dragon, you’re up to 140 pitches,’’ he said. “I think we made the right decision.’’
Jordan Walden completed the combined one-hitter.
The Mets hit few balls hard against the resurgent Harang, who lowered his ERA to an NL-best 0.70. The closest they came to a hit off him was actually on a check-swing tapper by Travis d’Arnaud in the second inning.
Second baseman Dan Uggla charged, snapped a throw and d’Arnaud was called out. Television replays appeared to show d’Arnaud might’ve been safe with an infield hit, and manager Terry Collins discussed the call with first base umpire Eric Cooper. But Collins didn’t challenge it because Lucas Duda, who had been on first, tried to advance to third and was easily beaten by first baseman Freddie Freeman’s return throw.
“I thought I was safe, but it’s the perfect reason to not challenge something because there was an out at third,’’ d’Arnaud said. “I know that if you get it right, they give it back to you, but Terry went out, talked to the umpire and then explained the whole situation to me.’’
Wright spoiled the combo no-hit bid with a clean single to left field.
The 6-foot-7 Harang took a no-hit try into the seventh inning for the second time this year. He did it in his season debut, giving up a leadoff single in the seventh at Milwaukee. He has never pitched a no-hitter in 13 major league seasons.
Elsewhere, the Oakland A’s scored seven first-inning runs and cruised to an 11-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
The A’s collected 10 hits but got plenty of gifts from the Houston pitchers, who issued 10 walks.
Both teams had 10 hits, and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes and right fielder Josh Reddick each had three for the A’s, who hit four home runs.
Second baseman Aaron Hill hit a two-run single in the top of the 12th inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Diamondbacks not only broke a six-game losing streak but earned their first victory against the Dodgers after five losses this season.
Center fielder A.J. Pollock began the 12th by hitting a double off right-handed reliever Chris Perez (0-1), who then hit pinch-hitter Cliff Pennington.
Right fielder Gerardo Parra followed with a sacrifice bunt to put both runners into scoring position and Hill then brought Pollock and Pennington home with a looping fly ball that fell in for a single.