NEW YORK — Citi Field has been a danger zone for the Atlanta Braves this summer.
Jason Heyward sustained a broken right jaw when he was hit in by a pitch Wednesday, becoming the second key member of the NL East leaders to go down with a scary injury at the New York Mets’ ballpark. Veteran pitcher Tim Hudson broke his ankle last month on a gruesome play at first base, ending his season.
“It’s just a fluke thing that it’s happened twice here,” Chris Johnson said after his three-run homer in the 10th inning sent Atlanta to a 4-1 victory.
Heyward went down in a heap during a frightening scene in the sixth inning after Jonathon Niese hit him with a 90 mph fastball. With blood in his mouth, he was examined by Mets doctors and taken to a hospital for X-rays.
He was diagnosed with two fractures in his jaw and will undergo surgery in Atlanta today. How much time Heyward will be sidelined is expected to be announced after the operation.
Heyward’s grandparents were at Citi Field and accompanied him to the hospital, along with trainer Jeff Porter. Heyward and Porter stayed behind in New York as the Braves traveled to St. Louis for a four-game series that begins tonight.
Heyward was expected to fly to Atlanta on Wednesday night.
“He never lost consciousness,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Right before he went to the hospital he popped his head into the clubhouse to say goodbye to some of the guys.
“It’s not the ballpark, it’s just a matter of freak stuff happening. It can happen anywhere.”
Atlanta, with baseball’s best record and a huge division lead, got an RBI single from Freddie Freeman, and another impressive start by rookie Alex Wood in splitting the two-game series for its 20th victory in 24 games. The Braves also benefited from a disputed call in the 10th.
Andrelton Simmons singled off Scott Atchison (3-2) with two outs, and Freeman hit a two-strike grounder back toward the box that ticked off the bottom of Scott Rice’s glove and rolled behind him. The reliever retrieved the ball and fired to first, where Freeman was called safe.
Mets manager Terry Collins came out to argue with umpire Jerry Layne. Johnson then launched a drive to left field on Greg Burke’s first big league pitch since he was recalled from the minors Sunday.
Johnson, who began the day second in the NL in batting at .334, struck out his previous three times up.
By the time Johnson crossed the plate, Layne had ejected New York second baseman Daniel Murphy. Collins came out for a more vehement argument this time, tossed his hat to the ground and was thrown out by Layne, as well.
Luis Avilan (5-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, and Craig Kimbrel reached 40 saves for the third straight season. He has converted 30 chances in a row, extending his club record.
Former Savannah Sand Gnat Josh Satin homered for the Mets. Rookie center fielder Juan Lagares, another former Sand Gnat, turned in his latest defensive gem with an outstanding throw to cut down Simmons trying to stretch a one-out single in the fourth.