NEW YORK (AP) The Atlanta Braves overcame the sinking New York Mets 7-4 on Tuesday night thanks to three RBIs from Matt Olson, including a tiebreaking single that ended a five-run sixth inning.
The Braves capitalized on nine walks by six Mets pitchers, and Spencer Strider (3-5) overcame one rough inning to win his third consecutive start. Over the last eight days, Atlanta, which has won nine of its twelve games overall, has advanced to 5-0 versus its NL East foe this season.
Starting pitcher Frankie Montas had a promising debut for the Mets, but New York wasted a 3-0 lead and fell for the tenth time in 11 games.
On a 97-degree night at Citi Field, Montas, who has been sidelined since spring training due to a right lat strain, struck out five in five shutout innings. However, Atlanta pounced after reliever Huascar Brazob walked the first three batters in the sixth.
After left-hander Jos Castillo (0-2) entered after Ozzie Albies delivered a sacrifice fly, pinch-hitter Eli White scored a run with an infield single on a low line shot that brushed over the glove of diving third baseman Brett Baty.
After starting the game with a.556 OPS, No. 9 batter Nick Allen knotted it 3-all with his third straight single after Michael Harris II was hit by a pitch.
Olson singled Reed Garrett for two runs one out later, putting the Braves ahead 5-3.
In the seventh, Austin Riley and Olson each added a double with RBI. Raisel Iglesias recorded his ninth save in 13 opportunities with two outs in the ninth.
After recovering from surgery on his right elbow, Strider missed his first five starts this season. However, he struck out eight batters in five innings of two-hit ball to defeat the Mets for the second game in six days.
The Mets scored three runs in a fourth inning that saw the right-hander walk three. However, Jeff McNeil’s one-out double in the ninth inning was the only hit they received after Baty’s two-run single.
Key moments
Iglesias ended the ninth inning by retiring Francisco Lindor with two on after allowing Ronny Mauricio to double with RBI. In the bottom of the sixth, Harris was pulled after being hit in the right elbow by a sinker traveling at 95 mph. He lives day-to-day.
Key stat
When the Mets played Milwaukee at Shea Stadium in August 2001, the temperature was 98 degrees, the highest for a home game since then.
Up next
20-year-old righty Didier Fuentes (0-1, 7.20), making his second major league start for Atlanta, will face Mets RHP Clay Holmes (7-4, 3.04 ERA) on Wednesday night.
