NEW YORK -- This was exactly the kind of situation the New York Mets got Jay Bruce for -- late innings, hoping for a home run. Except now, manager Terry Collins felt as if he had no choice but to pull the All-Star slugger for a pinch hitter.Yanked for a guy who hadnt gotten a hit in the majors since May and was batting .159, at that.Collins strategy worked -- Eric Campbell delivered an RBI single in a three-run eighth -- but the Mets rally fell short Tuesday night in a 5-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.Very difficult. First time Ive ever been pinch hit for, the badly slumping Bruce said. I always think Im the best choice ... but hes the manager and I respect his decision.He didnt need to explain that to me, he said. I obviously get how the game is played and you know what his thought process was there. I dont deserve any explanation from the manager.The Mets lost to last-place Atlanta for the second straight day. The defeat dropped them into a tie with St. Louis and San Francisco for the two NL wild cards.Bruce still ranks among the NL leaders with 29 home runs and 91 RBI, but has struggled mightily since the Mets got him on Aug. 1 from the Reds for two young players.The market, as you know, this is not Cincinnati, Collins said.Out of the starting lineup for two days as a mental break, Bruce returned and went 0 for 3, leaving him hitless in 12 at-bats and in a 3-for-38 rut.Bruce is hitting only .176 with his new team. The deal certainly hasnt turned out like the big trade last summer that brought Yoenis Cespedes, boosting the Mets into the World Series.I definitely didnt draw it up like this. Coming over here, its been tough on me. But fortunately the team has been playing really well, weve been winning games, were in a good spot when it comes to the playoff race, Bruce said.Im worried about the team, Im worried about winning games. I have plenty of time to think about myself. Right now is not that time, he said.Mets nemesis Julio Teheran pitched seven more sparkling innings and left with a 5-1 lead.After Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double and T.J. Rivera had a sacrifice fly, it was 5-3 with two outs and a runner on second in the eighth. Thats when Collins pulled Bruce and sent up Campbell to face lefty Ian Krol.Its one of the worst things you can do as a manager, to pinch hit for a star, especially one of the elite power hitters in the game. But you know, my job is to try to win the game, Collins said. In my opinion, I know hes struggling, I know hes had struggles with lefties.I think hes extremely frustrated, he added. I know I talked to him about it. ... Hes always had the ability and now he has the chances to, hey, just go out and play. And as I told him, this is a different situation here.The Braves have the worst record in the NL, yet have a four-game winning streak. They beat the Mets for the second day in a row and have won five straight at Citi Field.Teheran (6-10) gave up five hits and left with a four-run lead. Dating to the final time he saw the Mets last season, hes 3-0 with a 0.73 ERA in five starts against them.Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 19 chances. He struck out Cespedes with a runner on first to end it.Robert Gsellman (2-2) lost in his fifth major league start. The rookie took a 1-0 lead into the sixth before a misplayed flyball cost him.Atlanta loaded the bases with one out and Matt Kemp lofted a catchable fly to right-center. Granderson and Bruce both backed off at the last moment and the ball fell for a single, giving Kemp his 100th RBI.Jay, obviously, being the right fielder, is waiting for me to say something on that situation. I didnt and by the time I pulled up it was too late, Granderson said.NICE GAMEMets SS Asdrubal Cabrera reached base five times -- two singles, a double and two walks -- for the fourth time in his career. He last did it in 2011 with Cleveland.TRAINERS ROOMMets: LHP Steven Matz (shoulder tightness), sidelined since Aug. 14, possibly could start Friday night at home vs. the Phillies. ... INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) got another injection Monday. Collins hopes for a speedy return.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Ryan Weber (1-1, 5.46 ERA) is set to make his second start in the majors this year.Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon (14-7, 3.14) leads the team in wins. The 43-year-old is 5-1 with a 2.21 ERA in his last nine starts.Robbie Ray Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Chad Moeller Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Caleb Joseph Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Luke Weaver Jersey . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid.Carlton skipper Marc Murphy is keen for Bryce Gibbs to remain in the Blues leadership group despite his failed attempt to leave the AFL club.Gibbs sensationally asked to be traded to Adelaide for family reasons in Octobers trade period, only to see bitter negotiations between Carlton and the Crows amount to nothing.The star midfielder, who is contracted for another three years, returned to the club for the first time since the trade fiasco on Monday.Murphy maintained Gibbs return wasnt awkward for him or his teammates, even though he wanted to play elsewhere, and believes the star midfielder is ready to move on.Hes a tremendous footballer and person - he loves the footy club and the footy club loves him - so its great to have him still with us, Murphy told reporters on Monday.He was obviously going through a range of emotions (after the trade didnt go through) ... he was doing it pretty tough.(But) hes had a lot of conversations with people at the footy club and I think hes in a really good space now.He ran a really good time this morning in one of our trials ... hes in really good condition and looking forward to a big yeear.ddddddddddddGibbs was sensationally installed in the Blues leadership group for the 2007 season by then coach Denis Pagan without having played an AFL game.The No.1 draft pick was given time to mature away from the group after a year and has been a trusted lieutenant of Murphys since he took over the captaincy from Chris Judd ahead of the 2013 season.Well go through a process but Id love to still have him in (the leadership group), Murphy said.Hes been a great leader for the footy club and been a great support to me, so Id love to have him in the leadership group.Whether or not hes in that group or not ... well find out in the next few months, but hell still be a leader around the footy club (regardless).Murphys hope is that, with proper off-field support, Gibbs wont seek to leave the club again at next years trade period.Murphy suffered a serious ankle injury in round 10 and didnt play again this season, but reported he is in full training and is suffering no lingering effects of the issue. 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