Mets batter Atlanta, take series at Truist
ATLANTA — In hindsight, the Atlanta Braves might have preferred another rainout.
DJ Stewart hit a two-run homer in a four-run third inning for the New York Mets, and pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor smashed a ninth-inning grand slam to cap the rout at Truist Park as the visitors beat the Braves 16-4 on Thursday afternoon.
The Mets won two of three games in the series between National League East rivals, with six-time reigning division champ Atlanta losing 8-7 on Monday and winning 6-5 on Tuesday. What was supposed to be the third contest of a four-game series was called off Wednesday due to inclement weather on the way — it was the third postponement of the season for the Braves, although one of those games has already been made up — and Thursday’s first pitch was delayed 42 minutes by rain.
Once the game was underway, New York took control rather quickly on its way to improving 5-7 while dropping the first-place Braves to 7-4.
Jose Quintana started on the mound for the Mets and gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Quintana (1-1) allowed five hits, walked two batters and struck out four, and the veteran lefthander pitched with a lead from the start.
Jeff McNeil drove in three runs with two hits in New York’s best offensive game of 2024 so far as the Mets set season highs for runs and with 16 hits.
“I thought from the first game of the series we had really good at-bats,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Even when we had the lead, we kept putting together good at-bats.”
Stewart’s homer, which made it 7-0, was his second of the series. The designated hitter had no hits this season before his two-run shot Monday.
Luis Guillorme, an infielder, gave up the grand slam to Taylor in his first appearance with the Braves. Guillorme was used as a pitcher for the first time since appearances on the mound for the Mets in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said he was trying to protect his bullpen by sending Guillorme to the mound.
“You have to look ahead,” Snitker said. “You’ve got to look at the whole thing, the extra day’s rest when you can and staying away from the relievers at some point in time. It’s just part of getting through 162 games.”
The Braves were a dominant 10-3 against the Mets in 2023, when Atlanta’s 104-58 overall record was the best in Major League Baseball.
“It means a lot,” Stewart said. “They had our number last year, and a lot of guys in this clubhouse remember that.”
Quintana did not allow a hit until Matt Olson lined a triple high off the right-field wall, just missing a homer, with two outs in the fourth. It was the fifth career triple for the 30-yearold Olson, who made his MLB debut in September 2016.
Atlanta right-hander Allan Winans (0-1) allowed seven runs (six earned) in five innings. Winans was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, when the Braves placed ace Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list after an MRI revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Strider, who led the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts last year in his second full MLB season, is facing the prospect of Tommy John surgery. If needed, that would end his season.
Winans struggled but didn’t have much help from his teammates at the plate or in the field. Center fielder Michael Harris II misjudged a liner by Brandon Nimmo in the second inning. The shot sailed over Harris, who was late to break on the ball, driving in Harrison Bader for a 2-0 lead.
Starling Marte followed with a grounder that bounced past shortstop Orlando Arcia for an error, allowing Nimmo to score.
Mets left-hander Tyler Jay, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, allowed one run in two innings in his MLB debut.
He gave up the run in the eighth on Adam Duvall’s infield single. Duvall was called out before a review showed he beat the throw to first base, allowing Austin Riley to score from third.
Duvall, Ozzie Albies and Chadwick Tromp each had two hits for Atlanta. Tromp hit a two-run double in the fifth and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch, pulling the hosts within 7-3.
The Braves will open a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins, another NL East opponent, on Friday night. Atlanta’s Max Fried (0-0, 18.00) will try to regroup after allowing 10 earned runs in five innings over his first two starts of the season, while the Marlins will counter with Trevor Rogers (0-1, 5.40) in a matchup of lefties.