Duvall gets key hit as Braves top Mets

NEW YORK — Adam Duvall hit a two-run double during Atlanta’s seven-run sixth inning, and the Braves beat the New York Mets 9-2 on Wednesday.

Dansby Swanson and Ronald Acuña Jr. added RBI singles in Atlanta’s biggest inning of the season. Travis d’arnaud walked with the bases loaded, and Matt Olson capped the outburst with a run-scoring groundout.

“That was nice to put together — keep the line moving a little bit,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The one big inning — I don’t know that we’ ve done that this year. that was good to see that we are capable of that.”

The Braves scored seven or more runs just three times in their first 26 games. The World Series champions began the day with a .212 batting average with runners in scoring position after they managed just four runs in a doubleheader sweep by the Mets on Tuesday.

“Hitting is contagious, it really is,” Duvall said.

Luis Guillorme homered in the ninth for New York, which had won three of four. Eduardo Escobar doubled home pete alonso in the sixth.

Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (4-1) was charged with three runs and four hits in 5 ⅓ innings in his first start since he combined with four relievers on a no-hitter Friday night against Philadelphia.

Megill didn’t allow a hit against the braves until du va ll singled in the fifth. Then everything fell apart for the Mets in the sixth.

“Their guy did a great job, he seems to be off to a great start this year ,” winning pitcher ian Anderson said of Megill. “For us to keep chip ping away, draw a couple walks, get a couple base hits — usually we’re a team that hits a lot of homers and to score those runs with single, walk( and) moving guys over was good to see.”

Eight straight batters reached with one out. The rally began with an infield single by Austin Riley, who was initially called out on a grounder to third before the Braves challenged.

After Duvall’s double against Adam Ottavino made it 3-0, d’arnaud raced home on a wild pitch. Guillermo Heredia scored when Acuña used some nifty baserunning to escape a rundown on Olson’s potential doubleplay grounder.