For seven innings, this looked like a comfortable Mets victory. Then the ninth inning happened. New York scored five times in the top half to push the lead to 10-3, only to watch Atlanta answer with six runs of its own before Williams retired the final two outs. The Mets survived, 10-9, at Truist Park on Sunday, but it was far messier than anyone in the visiting dugout would have preferred.
Nolan McLean was the steadying force that made it possible. The right-hander worked 6.0 innings, allowing 3 runs — 2 earned — on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 96 pitches. He picked up his sixth win against five losses, carrying a 3.73 ERA. The Mets needed every one of those innings, because the bullpen nearly gave it all back.
New York struck first in the first inning when Bichette singled to left and Lindor scored. Atlanta answered immediately. Michael Harris singled to center, scoring both Baldwin and Albies, and Mauricio Dubon followed with a single to center that brought Harris home — a 3-1 Braves lead after one. The Mets reclaimed the advantage in the second. A.J. Ewing homered to center (408 feet) to cut the deficit, then Lindor singled to left and Torrens scored to tie it at 3-3. From that tie, Juan Soto singled to right, scoring both Baty and Lindor to put New York ahead 5-3 — the go-ahead blow that proved to be the game's decisive swing. The score held there through eight innings. In the ninth, Tyrone Taylor homered to left center (417 feet), Bichette doubled to left to score Baty and Lindor, and Jared Young singled to left, scoring Soto and Bichette, pushing the lead to 10-3. Then Atlanta's ninth began. Dubón scored on a pickoff error by pitcher Brazobán. Baldwin then homered to left (383 feet), a grand slam that scored Smith, Riley, and White to make it 10-8. Harris reached on an infield single to first and Olson scored, pulling Atlanta within 10-9. Williams entered and recorded the final two outs for his 13th save.
Martin Perez absorbed the loss, falling to 6-6. He lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing 5 runs — 4 earned — on 6 hits with 2 walks and 1 strikeout on 77 pitches, with a 3.54 ERA. Bichette went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI to lead the Mets' offense, while Baldwin's grand slam gave Atlanta four RBI in a losing effort. Harris drove in 3 runs for the Braves.
New York dropped to 36-53 and has lost three straight. Atlanta, despite the loss, remains atop its division at 52-35, having won two in a row entering this game. Bichette is 3 hits away from 1,000 career hits, and also 13 RBI away from 500 career RBI. Ozzie Albies is 1 stolen base away from 100 career stolen bases. Williams, meanwhile, is 1 save away from 100 career saves.