Mets survive 9th-inning comeback by Braves

ATLANTA — Nothing comes easy for the New York Mets right now, and it was no different Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. There was some respite in the form of a 10-9 win at Truist Park, but make no mistake, they had to work for this win, at times beating themselves and their opposition.

The Mets (37-53) have a seven-run lead going into the ninth inning with two of the best leverage relievers rested, but right-handers Huascar Brazobán and Devin Williams combined to give up six runs, bringing the Braves back to within one. With two on and two out, Williams had runners on the corners, but managed to strand them to withstand the push by the NL East’s best team.

They can split the series with the Braves with a win Monday night.

The visitors went up 1-0 in the top of the first by taking advantage of an error that allowed leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor to reach first base. Juan Soto was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, something that usually might take the wind out of the sails early, but Bo Bichette came through with a single to score Lindor.

An aggressive Atlanta lineup hit Nolan McLean in the bottom of the inning for three runs, and once again, the Mets were down early. This time, however, they responded and responded immediately.

A.J. Ewing led off the second inning with a home run off left-hander Martin Perez on a full count, cutting the deficit to one run. Luis Torrens walked, and Brett Baty doubled to right field to put two on for Lindor.

It was off to the races. Lindor came through with a game-tying RBI single, taking second on the throw. Juan Soto hit one to right to score Baty and Lindor, putting the Mets back on top.

McLean settled in from there. He put a stop to the bleeding, working around two on in the second to get out of the inning unscathed.

McLean retired 13 of the last 14 hitters he faced, with the only runner reaching after the second inning doing so because Mark Vientos bobbled a ball at first base in the fifth inning. It would have been the second error of the game for the first baseman, but a first-inning missed catch was changed to a throwing error charged to McLean.

The rookie right-hander went six innings, holding the Braves (52-36) to three runs (two earned) on five hits, walking one and striking out five for the win (6-5).

The Mets’ bullpen took it from the sixth, with left-hander Brooks Raley and right-handers Luke Weaver holding the lead in the seventh and eighth innings. Tyrone Taylor gave the Mets an insurance run in the top of the ninth with his second home run in as many nights, a leadoff shot off former Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco, and the Mets went on to score four more in the ninth, allowing them to use Brazobán Williams, the closer.

Or so they thought.

Brazobán, working on a week of rest, imploded in the ninth, giving up five earned runs in only 1/3 of an inning, including a grand slam by Drake Baldwin. That forced the Mets to bring in Williams, who got the next two outs for the save (13).

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