ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the reeling New York Mets 13-10 for a three-game sweep Thursday night.
Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.
New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings.
The Mets (30-33) wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander was ineffective.
Atlanta overcame a 9-5 deficit and came back from at least three runs down to win all three games in the series. It marked the first time in their 62-season history the Mets lost three consecutive games they led by three runs or more.
Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1) to drive in pinch-runner Sam Hilliard, who entered as the automatic runner at second base, and Travis d'Arnaud, who walked. Albies' homer, his 14th, sent Braves players spilling out of their dugout for an on-field celebration.
New York led 10-7 entering the eighth before d'Arnaud hit a two-run homer off Drew Smith. Robertson was summoned to try to get a five-out save but gave up Arcia's one-out homer in the ninth. It was his second blown save in 12 chances.
Nimmo's grand slam in the second gave New York a 5-3 lead and Álvarez drove in three runs with his two homers. The Mets had 14 hits, including three by Starling Marte, but it wasn't enough as Atlanta launched four homers.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.
The 40-year-old Verlander lasted only three innings, allowing five runs — four earned. He made his first career start at Truist Park, the 34th stadium in which he has started.
Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider was given a 3-0 lead in the first, when Austin Riley hit a two-run homer, his first of four hits. Strider gave up the lead in the Mets' five-run second and allowed a career-high eight runs in four innings.
Despite the absence of slugger Pete Alonso, the Mets put up plenty of runs. Alonso returned to New York for further tests after his left wrist was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of Atlanta’s 7-5 win on Wednesday night. The Mets said Alonso had a bruise, and X-rays revealed no broken bones.
Strider was touched up for five runs on five hits in the second. Nimmo hit a 96 mph fastball over the middle of the plate into the right-field seats for his first career slam.
Strider's struggles continued in the fourth when Álvarez hit a two-run homer. He added a solo shot in the sixth.
Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna hit his 12th homer in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: RHP Michael Tomkin (strained neck) allowed two runs over two innings in relief of Strider after he was recalled from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. RHP Roddery Muñoz was optioned to Gwinnett.
Mets: RHP Jeff Brigham remained in the game to face one more batter after Riley lined a single off his lower back in the sixth.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.40 ERA) will face Pirates LHP Rich Hill (5-5, 4.41) in Friday night's series opener at Pittsburgh.
Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver will make his first career start when he faces Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.66) in Friday night's opener of a weekend series against the Nationals. Gore allowed three hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-1 home win over the Braves on April 2.
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Charles Odum, The Associated Press
