ATLANTA — One sequence win is hardly sufficient to find out whether or not or not the Mets are mounted, particularly since that win got here in opposition to the NL East’s fourth-place workforce, however the truth that it got here in Atlanta does say one thing.
Clay Holmes recorded his first high quality begin since June 7, and the Mets smashed 4 dwelling runs in an 9-2 win over the Braves on Saturday night time at Truist Park, three of which got here within the seventh inning to show a one-run lead right into a five-run lead. Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos and Starling Marte all hammered homers. Vientos hit two, and so did McNeil, whose three-run shot within the third gave the Mets a lead they’d by no means relinquish.
Lastly, the Mets (69-60) have been in a position to benefit from a workforce out of the operating to choose up some wins. Doing so on the street in a spot the place they’ve traditionally performed poorly made much more of an announcement.
McNeil’s three-run shot within the prime of the third gave the Mets an early 3-0 lead. The second baseman teed off on the primary pitch he noticed from right-hander Cal Quantrill (0-1), sending it 420 ft into the fitting discipline stands. It was the second-longest dwelling run of his profession, and it got here after he had the final two days off to take care of a sore proper shoulder.
The 2022 NL batting champ has remodeled right into a slugger this season. He’s homered three and pushed in eight runs by means of 5 video games of the Mets’ six-game journey, and he’s solely performed in three of them. His eleventh homer of the season gave Holmes some respiration room to work with.
Holmes has thrown way more innings than he has in any earlier 12 months of his profession, however he appeared to hit a wall after about 80. The Mets doubled down on their confidence within the transformed reliever on the commerce deadline, however he didn’t precisely repay them for it immediately. The final time he confronted the Braves (58-71), he couldn’t even make it by means of 4 innings.
This time round, Holmes pitched into the seventh. He gave up two within the prime of the fourth, however stranded the tying run on second. The precise-hander retired eight straight earlier than Drake Baldwin hit a single, prompting the Mets to go to the bullpen.
It was the sort of begin the Mets anticipated from Holmes, who restricted the Braves to 2 earned runs on three hits, walked two and struck out 4 within the win (11-6). He had assist from the protection, however that’s why these different eight guys are on the sphere.
The homer-fest started within the prime of the seventh in opposition to left-hander Dylan Lee. Juan Soto walked to steer off, and Pete Alonso hit No. 29 on the season to present the Mets a 5-2 lead. Then Vientos hit one. With one out, Marte hit one, capping a monster sport by which the outfielder went 3-for-3 with a house run, a stroll, two stolen bases and a putout at dwelling.
Vientos hit his second within the prime of the ninth off left-hander Austin Cox, and McNeil adopted with one other certainly one of his personal.
The assertion is that this: Don’t depend the Mets out simply but. They continue to be in second place within the NL East behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and in third place within the NL Wild Card standings, now 2.5 video games up on the Cincinnati Reds.
Initially Printed: August 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM EDT
