Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who didn’t start the game due to a side injury, hit a walk-off two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the host New York Mets over the Atlanta Braves 4-3.
The Mets averted being swept in the three-game series and won for just the seventh time in 19 games. The Braves’ four-game winning streak ended.
Nimmo, who left after four innings in Saturday’s 4-1 loss due to a tight right intercostal muscle, entered Sunday as a pinch runner for DJ Stewart in the seventh inning.
The Braves snapped a 2-2 tie in the eighth, when Marcell Ozuna delivered his second RBI single of the night, and the Mets went down in order in the bottom of the inning before coming back in the ninth against A.J. Minter (5-3).
Jeff McNeil legged out a bunt single and went to second on a sacrifice by Tomas Nido. Nimmo then hit a 3-2 pitch beyond the fence in right-center fence for his second career walk-off homer.
Edwin Diaz (1-1) threw a perfect ninth inning.
Pete Alonso had an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring double in the sixth for the Mets. Stewart and Francisco Lindor also had two hits apiece.
New York starter Luis Severino allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.
Ozuna’s run-scoring hits increased his major-league-leading RBI total to 40 in 37 games. He is the fastest Braves player to reach 40 RBIs since Hall of Famer Henry Aaron had 40 in his first 35 games in 1970.
Jarred Kelenic homered in the second inning for the Braves. Kelenic was selected by the Mets in the first round of the 2018 draft before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in the Diaz blockbuster following that season.
Braves starter Bryce Elder gave up two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media