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DeGrom carries perfect game into 6th inning, Mets dominate Braves

Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Mets have their ace back.

Jacob deGrom carried a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, retiring the first 17 batters he faced while racking up 12 strikeouts.

The perfecto bid ended when the 34-year-old walked Ehire Adrianza. The no-hitter was also spoiled shortly after, with Dansby Swanson hammering a two-run homer to center field.

DeGrom missed the first four months of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his right shoulder. He entered Sunday's start with an expected 75-pitch workload. He threw 76 pitches before being relieved by left-hander Joely Rodriguez with two out in the sixth.

Despite not finishing off the perfect game or no-hitter, deGrom still had a historic night, becoming the all-time leader in strikeouts by a pitcher through 200 career games. The two-time Cy Young winner now has 1,523 Ks, surpassing Yu Darvish's record of 1,518 through his first 200 games.

Rodriguez shut the Braves down over a strong 2 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed one hit while striking out four before handing the ball over to closer Edwin Diaz, who recorded his 26th save of the year while striking out the side in the ninth.

In total, the Mets' pitching staff managed 19 strikeouts in the 5-2 victory.

The game put the finishing touches on a dominant series for the Mets, who won four of five against their bitter division rival. New York now holds a commanding 6 1/2-game lead in the NL East, with the reigning champs in second.

DeGrom has a 2.53 ERA and 1.24 FIP through 10 2/3 innings this year. The four-time All-Star has allowed three earned runs on four hits and one walk while racking up 18 strikeouts.

The Mets managed a combined no-hitter April 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies, started by Tylor Megill and involving relievers Drew Smith, Rodriguez, Seth Lugo, and Diaz.

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