Mets power up to cap big rally vs. Braves
NEW YORK -- Down five runs at one point, the Mets clubbed four homers Sunday en route to their biggest comeback of the season in a 10-8 win over the Braves at Citi Field.
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Juan Lagares completed the comeback with a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth, giving the Mets a two-run lead -- their first of the game. A patchwork bullpen took it from there, leaning on Jeurys Familia's four-out save to hold Atlanta scoreless over the final five innings.
"That's an amazing win right there," Lagares said. "The whole team battled the whole game. It didn't matter the lead. We never gave up."
Most of the early afternoon belonged to the Braves, who assaulted Mets spot starter Dillon Gee with an eight-run barrage over 3 2/3 innings. But Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz gave most of that back, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and departing with one out in the fifth. The Mets' 25th-ranked offense then completed the rally against Luis Avilan and Atlanta's 27th-ranked bullpen.
"I didn't have it today, period," Foltynewicz said. "When a team gives you a five-run lead, you've got to go out and take advantage of it. I didn't do that today. I just left everything up from the start -- the fastballs, curveballs, sliders, and even the changeups were up today."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
All the way back: Trailing 5-1 and 8-3, the Mets capped their comeback when Lagares launched his shot off Avilan in the sixth. That gave the Mets a 10-8 lead they would not relinquish. Darrell Ceciliani, Dilson Herrera and Travis d'Arnaud also homered earlier in the afternoon to plant the seeds of the comeback. More >
Video: ATL@NYM: Lagares clubs a three-run shot for the lead
Foltynewicz wastes another generous lead: This marked the second time in his past three starts that Foltynewicz did not get a decision after gaining a lead of at least five runs.The rookie was fortunate to limit the damage to two runs when he allowed three singles and issued a walk while facing just five batters in the third inning. But as he struggled to command each of his four pitches, he provided the Mets life by surrendering solo homers to Ceciliani and Herrera. More >
Video: ATL@NYM: Ceciliani belts his first big league homer
Eight-spot start: Jace Peterson's three-run homer in the second accounted for less than half of the damage against Gee, who gave up a career-high eight runs on 11 hits and a walk. Making a spot start in what general manager Sandy Alderson has called a "five-man heavy" rotation, as opposed to a true six-man set, Gee was unable to make it out of the fourth. More >
Video: ATL@NYM: Peterson hammers a three-run shot off Gee
Extended bullpen woes: Though Foltynewicz had only thrown 75 pitches, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez felt more comfortable going to his leaky bullpen after Lucas Duda singled with one out in the fifth. Brandon Cunniff promptly surrendered a two-run homer to d'Arnaud before pitching around two walks in the frame. Avilan then opened the sixth by allowing consecutive singles ahead of Lagares' homer. Atlanta's relievers have produced a 5.89 ERA over the past 20 games. More >
Video: ATL@NYM: d'Arnaud belts a two-run shot to cut deficit
QUOTABLE
"At the end of the day, everyone is competing and doing their job. That's all you can ask for. I think the guys are making good pitches. Unfortunately, it's not going well for them right now. I know they're going to continue to work and it's going to flip."
-- Peterson, who matched a career high with three hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle
"You're kidding. Well maybe that's a new thing we've got going. We'll all wear them tomorrow if we keep winning."
-- Mets manager Terry Collins, on the Gatorade cups that Herrera stuck to his ears during the comeback More >
Video: ATL@NYM: Collins on Mets' resiliency in comeback win
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Braves have now lost each of the past three games in which they have scored at least eight runs. They went 135-2 when scoring at least eight runs from 2009-14.
Video: ATL@NYM: Markakis pulls an RBI double to right
For the first time since Aug. 8, 2011, the Mets won a game in which they allowed at least eight runs. Coming into the day, that nearly four-year drought was the longest of any big league team.
BANNER DAY FOR THE METS
Sherri Feldman and family won the Mets' annual Banner Day with a sign reading, "Our love for the Mets has been handed down," and their handprints forming a heart around the Mets' logo. Banner Day is an annual tradition in which fans parade around the Citi Field warning track with homemade signs supporting the team.
WHAT'S NEXT
Braves: Atlanta will begin a two-game series against the Red Sox on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Williams Perez will make his scheduled start, despite having completed a scoreless inning of relief to complete Saturday's 11-inning win over the Mets. Perez threw just nine pitches in the "emergency" relief appearance.
Mets: Noah Syndergaard will open a four-game, home-and-home series Monday at Citi Field against the Blue Jays, the team that drafted him back in 2010. Syndergaard and d'Arnaud came to the Mets in the seven-player deal that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays in December 2012. He will oppose Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle, with first pitch set for 7:10 ET.