Mets Hold On for Victory Despite Late Scare Against Braves

The Mets entered their Sunday matchup against the Braves desperate for a turnaround, having lost three consecutive games and twelve of their last fourteen. With their rotation struggling, they relied on Nolan McLean to deliver a much-needed performance. Opposing him was Martín Pérez, who boasted a 3.27 ERA and was enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. However, rain in the area delayed the game’s start by nearly two hours, adding to the pressure on a Mets team looking for an easy afternoon.

Once play commenced at Truist Park, Francisco Lindor led off with a groundball that Austin Riley mishandled, allowing Lindor to reach first base safely. Juan Soto followed with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Nonetheless, Lindor advanced to third, setting the stage for Bo Bichette, who delivered a soft single to left field, bringing Lindor home and giving the Mets an early lead. Despite a walk to Mark Vientos that loaded the bases, Pérez managed to escape the inning without further damage.

However, the Mets’ lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the first, McLean hit Drake Baldwin with a pitch and then surrendered a double to Ozzie Albies, placing two runners in scoring position. Tyrone Taylor made a crucial sliding catch for the first out, but Michael Harris II’s subsequent single drove both runners in, swinging the momentum in favor of the Braves. An errant pickoff attempt by McLean allowed Harris to advance to third, and Mauricio Dubón’s single capped a three-run inning for Atlanta. Just like that, the Mets went from leading to trailing.

The second inning saw an unexpected resurgence from the Mets. A.J. Ewing ignited the offense with a solo home run to center field, narrowing the Braves’ lead to one run. Following a walk to Luis Torrens and a Brett Baty double, Lindor’s single tied the game. Soto then hit a single to right, scoring both runners and giving the Mets a 5-3 advantage. This four-run inning was a refreshing display of resilience from a team that had struggled to find its footing.

McLean settled down after the rocky start, pitching six innings and allowing just three runs—two earned—while recording five strikeouts and one walk. Relievers Brooks Raley and Luke Raley contributed two scoreless innings, preserving the Mets’ two-run lead. The ninth inning saw the Mets explode offensively, beginning with a solo home run from Taylor. After a couple of outs, the Mets loaded the bases, leading to a double from Bichette that brought in two runs, and a single from Jared Young that added two more, extending their lead to seven runs.

Yet, in true Mets fashion, the game was far from secure. Huascar Brazoban, entering with a solid 1.94 ERA, struggled, giving up two singles and making a throwing error that allowed a run to score. With the bases loaded, Drake Baldwin hit a grand slam, cutting the Mets’ lead to just two runs. Devin Williams came in to relieve Brazoban and initially appeared to stabilize the situation by striking out Albies. However, he soon surrendered a double to Olson and a single to Harris, bringing the Braves within one run. A single from Dubón put two runners on base, but Dominic Smith struck out, allowing the Mets to cling to their narrow victory.

While a win is a win, this one felt more like a near miss for the Mets, leaving them with a bittersweet taste as they prepare for a final game against the Braves. They will look to Freddy Peralta for a chance to split the series before heading home.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.