All-Stars McNeil, Alonso Lead Late Rally As Mets Top Braves
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Newly named All-Stars Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso had the big hits in a five-run eighth inning that rallied the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Sunday night, snapping their seven-game losing streak.
"Me and him kind of feed off each other," Alonso said. "He's a sparkplug. We just have really good chemistry. I love him hitting in front of me."
Todd Frazier launched a long homer to begin the comeback and finished with three hits and two RBIs. McNeil and J.D. Davis also had three hits apiece for the Mets, who prevented a three-game sweep by the NL East leaders and won for only the fifth time in 18 games.
"Felt good," Frazier said. "It had to happen sometime."
After a day off Monday, they host the crosstown rival Yankees for a pair of Subway Series games.
"We've got to carry this momentum on into Tuesday," Alonso said.
Earlier Sunday, Alonso, a rookie, and his buddy McNeil — in his first full major league season — were selected as reserves on the National League All-Star team for the July 9 game in Cleveland.
All-Star starter Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for the Braves. He had three hits and scored three times.
"They breed confidence," Frazier said. "Sky's the limit for those two."
Frazier trimmed it to 5-4 with a leadoff homer in the eighth into the second deck in left field on an 0-2 pitch from Sean Newcomb (2-1). New York loaded the bases when A.J. Minter walked Michael Conforto, and McNeil looped the next pitch into shallow right field for a two-run single that put the Mets ahead.
"I guess maybe got a little lucky. It was a good pitch. He did what he wanted to. He jammed me. It just happened to fall in," McNeil said. "It's a great team win."
Alonso followed with a two-run double inside third base for some needed insurance.
"I don't know how you get them out," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "McNeil, I just sat back the whole series and hoped he'd hit it at somebody. I don't know what you do. The kid's something else. He puts the bat on the ball about as good as anybody you'll see and you've really got to make pitches and hope he hits it at somebody. Alonso, too. They're two good young hitters."
Struggling reliever Edwin Díaz finally closed one out for New York's beleaguered bullpen, getting three quick outs for his 17th save in 21 tries. New York has a major league-high 21 blown saves in 40 chances.
"I just stay positive every time," Díaz said through a translator. "I know last Thursday I had a bad outing in Philadelphia, but I leave that in the past."
Wilmer Font (1-2) worked two hitless innings for his first win with the Mets. Noah Syndergaard came off the injured list and pitched 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and seven hits.
With the score tied, Acuña singled leading off the seventh and went to third when Dansby Swanson hustled for a double. Freddie Freeman gave Atlanta a 5-3 lead with a two-run double off the left field fence against reliever Chris Flexen.
Acuña, who plans to participate in the Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities next month in Cleveland, took a long look at his 437-foot solo shot to right-center off Syndergaard in the third. It was the 20th home run for Acuña.
Acuña opened the game with a single and stole second. He scored on Josh Donaldson's two-out double. Davis singled home a run in the bottom half.
New York went ahead 3-2 on Frazier's RBI single and Amed Rosario's sacrifice fly in the third.
Atlanta tied it on Johan Camargo's run-scoring single in the sixth off Syndergaard.
Braves starter Max Fried yielded three runs and eight hits in five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RHP Anthony Swarzak was placed on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder. The team hopes the right-hander will be ready to return immediately after the All-Star break on July 12. ... 2B Ozzie Albies sat out. Albies exited Saturday's game after getting hit by a pitch on the inside of his left elbow. He wore a protective sleeve on the elbow Sunday afternoon and was available off the bench.
Mets: Syndergaard was reinstated from the IL after being sidelined since June 16 with a strained right hamstring. Veteran outfielder Carlos Gómez was designated for assignment. ... Three injured members of New York's beleaguered bullpen had minor league rehab outings: RHP Jeurys Familia (shoulder) struck out two in a scoreless inning for Triple-A Syracuse; LHP Luis Avilán whiffed three in 1 1/3 hitless innings at Syracuse; and LHP Justin Wilson (elbow soreness) fanned two in a scoreless inning with Class A Brooklyn. ... 2B Robinson Canó was hit on the right hand by a 96 mph fastball in the eighth. He was checked by a trainer but stayed in the game.
UP NEXT
Braves: LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 5.06) makes his third start for Atlanta on Tuesday night at home against second-place Philadelphia.
Mets: With a day off Monday, the Mets had not yet announced their scheduled starters for Subway Series games against the Yankees on Tuesday and Wednesday. LHP Jason Vargas and RHP Zack Wheeler are lined up in rotation, but the team could move Wheeler up a day and start All-Star ace Jacob deGrom on regular rest Wednesday.
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