The Mets learned to walk but never figured out how to run.
Or, more precisely, how to score a run.
A lineup missing late scratch Francisco Lindor drew seven walks against pitcher Charlie Morton in the first four innings Friday night but couldn’t get a timely hit and ultimately paid the price in a listless 7-0 series-opening loss to the Braves at Citi Field.
Daniel Vogelbach struck out with two runners on base to end the first inning, Danny Mendick hit into a double play and Brandon Nimmo flied out both with two runners on in the second, Vogelbach struck out again and Mark Vientos popped out to strand two runners in the third, and Francisco Alvarez followed the Mets’ sixth and seventh walks drawn by flying out to right field.
Vogelbach left two more runners on to end the seventh and was booed by an announced crowd of 37,339.
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The fans stayed for the postgame fireworks shows — and to boo Vogelbach even louder both before and after he struck out for the fourth time to mercifully end the game.
Morton entered the game with a 7.32 ERA and 15 walks and 22 hits allowed over 19 ²/₃ innings in losing each of his last four starts.
The wildness continued, but the Mets — starting five batters who have spent time at Triple-A this season — let Morton off the hook as he labored through five scoreless innings on 105 pitches.
It was an uncharacteristically rough night in center field for Brandon Nimmo.
Hitting with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth, Eddie Rosario broke a scoreless tie with a two-RBI single.
The ball bounced away from Nimmo and allowed a third run to score.
The Braves already had extended their lead to 5-0 before Rosario stroked a RBI double to center that was assisted by Nimmo’s strange route and slightly early jump.
That was the final batter faced by Tylor Megill, who allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5 ¹/₃ innings.
Lindor was scratched from the starting lineup with right side soreness, ending his streak of 223 consecutive games played.
Pete Alonso made two nifty plays in the field to secure outs — one on a full stretch as he fell to the turf and another sliding to his right and into the second baseman’s territory to field a ball then lobbed to the covering pitcher.
It was the third time this season in MLB that a pitcher allowed at least seven walks over the first four innings but escaped unharmed, including when Dylan Cease (White Sox) did it against the Yankees earlier this week, according to SNY.
Austin Riley homered for the only blemish on Jimmy Yacabonis’ line in 3 ²/₃ innings of relief.