Pete Alonso had a pair of RBI singles Tuesday afternoon for the host New York Mets, who never trailed in a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a doubleheader.
The Mets, who fell in Monday’s series opener and need to win the final three games of the four-game set to extend their franchise-record season-opening streak of series wins to eight, improved their National League-best record to 17-8.
Matt Olson hit a three-run homer in the fifth for the Braves, who have lost three of four.
The Mets built a 2-0 lead against Charlie Morton (1-3) in the first. Travis Jankowski beat out an infield single and Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch with one out before Alonso and Eduardo Escobar followed with back-to-back RBI singles to right.
The Braves cut the lead in half against David Peterson (1-0) in the top of the second. Adam Duvall walked with one out, went to third on a double by Dansby Swanson down the third base line and scored on Travis Demeritte’s sacrifice fly.
The Mets scored twice in the second without hitting the ball out of the infield. Lindor drove home Luis Guillorme with an RBI fielder’s choice and Alonso scored Jankowski with an infield single.
Canha lofted a sacrifice fly in the fourth before the Braves broke out in the fifth. Demeritte led off with a single and Guillermo Heredia struck out before Peterson threw away a potential double play ball following a comebacker by Albies. Olson homered to deep right field on the next pitch.
But a trio of relievers — Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith and Edwin Diaz — preserved the lead for Peterson with four innings of one-hit ball. Diaz earned his fifth save by working around a two-out single by Orlando Arcia.
Peterson allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six.
Jankowski had two hits and a stolen base.
Morton recovered from the slow start to throw 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
