The Mets survive another nail biter from the bullpen as they stave off the Braves with the tying run at the plate.
Coming off eight consecutive no decisions, starter Steven Matz tossed a six-inning beauty yielding two runs on four hits mowing down eight with one walk.
Showcasing a little more bulk to his build, the Long Island lefty retired 13 in a row before Ronald Acuna Jr. smacked a two-out single up the middle.
Atlanta jumped ahead 1-0 in the first on Acuna’s run scoring triple, but their short-lived lead was relinquished in the second after NY cashed in on a pair of free passes with one swing of Amed Rosario’s bat.
In his sophomore season, the young Dominican, who has dazzled offensively, drove in another run in the sixth on a single to right for a career high four-RBI night.
Johan Camargo’s first homer cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second.
Rookie Pete Alonso, the gift that keeps on hitting, jacked a two-run shot off reliever Jonny Venters in the seventh, a 454 laser that landed in a terrace fountain beyond the center field fence.
“Nursing” a 6-2 lead, reliever Robert Gsellman found himself in some hotter water, loading the bases in the bottom frame. With one away, the gum-chewing Gsellman coaxed Ozhaino Albies to chase high outside heat then escaped unscathed getting Josh Donaldson on a ground out to third.
Acuna brought the Braves one run closer in the eighth going 462 feet deep off of reliever Luis Avilan for his third hit of the game.
And the Mets wouldn’t be the Mets if they didn’t end a game amid more bullpen drama. With runners on second and third in the ninth, Edwin Diaz eluded a NY nightmare by striking out Freddie Freeman on a 3-2 count with a 99 mph fastball for his fifth save.
Next up, Zack Wheeler brings his 10.24 ERA to his hometown Braves to face fellow right-hander Kyle Wright, both vying for their first wins of the season.
