New York (59-67) took down the first-place Atlanta Braves (80-44) by a 10-4 margin on Monday evening in Truist Park. In a game with five lead changes, it was an all-around team effort as the bullpen tossed four and 1/3 scoreless innings and the offense clobbered seven unanswered runs from the fifth inning on to secure the win. The Mets have now been triumphant in seven of the club’s last nine games, as they take the first of the three-game series in Atlanta.
New York jumped out to an early three-run lead thanks to a pair of home runs from DJ Stewart (solo) and Rafael Ortega (two-run) in the second. It was Ortega’s first homer as a Met. The Braves picked up a run in the home half of the inning and tied it up on a two-run double knocked by Michael Harris II in the third. Atlanta took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a leadoff solo bomb from Marcell Ozuna–his second of the night.
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The Mets responded with seven unanswered runs to take home the win. The club picked up three runs in the fifth on a base hit each from Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and Daniel Vogelbach. The team broke the game open in the sixth, with three more runs scored on a three-run bomb from Francisco Lindor for his 23rd of the year.
David Peterson got the start for New York and tossed 93 pitches over four and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Phil Bickford, the winning pitcher of Monday night’s matchup, gave up the bullpen’s only hit allowed to Orlando Arcia in the sixth. Bickford, Sam Conrood, Adam Ottavino, and Drew Smith each tossed a scoreless inning with six total strikeouts to close out the win.
Player of the Game
DJ Stewart earns Monday’s honor with a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate, continuing on his recent hot streak. The outfielder’s home run in the in the second was his fifth in six games, with nine RBIs during that span.
On Deck
Tylor Megill takes the mound on Tuesday for New York. In his last start against the Pirates, he threw five innings and allowed two runs on five hits, with four walks and five strikeouts.
Bryce Elder gets the start for the Braves. In his last time out against the Yankees, he tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with three walks and three strikeouts.
First pitch for Tuesday night’s game is set for 7:20 p.m. ET. The game will be available to watch on SNY and can be listened to on WCBS 880.
