Adonis Garcia’s Two-Run Homer Lifts Braves To 4-3 Home Win Over Mets

Adonis Garcia hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3, come-from-behind home victory against the New York Mets on Thursday night.

Adonis Garcia’s Two-Run Homer Lifts Braves To 4-3 Home Win Over Mets

Garcia’s home run, his fourth of the season, to left field off right-hander Addison Reed gave the Braves their first lead of the night (4-3) in the bottom of the eighth. Atlanta nearly tied the game one inning earlier, but Mets left fielder Michael Conforto turned a potential game-tying sacrifice fly into an inning-ending double play, which resulted in Braves interim manager Brian Snitker’s ejection after he lost a challenge.

With men on second and third in the bottom of the seventh, Braves center fielder lifted the sacrifice fly down the line. Conforto caught the ball in foul ground, gathered himself and fired home, where his throw gave Travis d’Arnaud just enough time to slap a tag on second-baseman Emilio Bonifacio. 

Snitker challenged the double-play, but a review confirmed not only that d’Arnaud’s tag beat Bonifacio to the plate, but also that he left a proper lane for Bonifacio to slide. After Snitker continued to argue, he was promptly ejected.

“I just tried to make sure I caught it, and then apply a tag,” d’Arnaud said. “I just didn’t think there was enough evidence to overturn it if he was safe.”

The interim manager praised the Braves for their performance, however.

“These guys — I’ve said it ever since I’ve been here — there’s just no quit in them,” Snitker said of his players. “They just keep working, keep grinding, keep playing and picking each other up. It’s nice when they’re rewarded like that.”

Atlanta starter Matt Wisler delivered a quality start, allowing only three runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings, as well as a season-high four walks. The right-hander’s counterpart, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, gave up eight hits, two runs and struck out three in six innings.

The win marked the Braves’ fourth straight over the Mets, after sweeping them at Citi Field last weekend, and their seventh victory in eight games overall. The Mets, meanwhile, previously won two consecutive home games against the Kansas City Royals.

“They’re playing good right now,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “They’re playing very, very good. I know they won six in a row. We’re having a tough time getting them out.”

Filling in for injured center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, Alejandro De Aza opened scoring for the Mets with an RBI double in the top of the second inning, snapping an 0-for-20 skid at the plate. Then in the fifth, Neil Walker cracked an 0-for-15 slide with a run-scoring single.

A.J. Pierzynski, who hadn’t recorded an extra-base hit since May 20 entering Thursday, contributed to the Braves offense early. The 39-year-old catcher drove in the team’s first run in the fourth and then cut the Braves’ deficit to one with an RBI double to right-center field in the sixth. Both hits came off Harvey.

Before Garcia’s two-run homer, Freddie Freeman opened the eighth (when the Braves still trailed 3-2) with a single off Jerry Blevins. 

The two teams will next face off again at Turner Field on Friday night for the second game of their four-game series. Left-hander Steven Matz will start for the Mets, while right-hander Aaron Blair will take the mound for Atlanta. Blair is still seeking his first career win in what will be his 11th start. He issued just one walk against the Mets on Saturday, but has given up 18 free passes at home this year.

ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 23: Adonis Garcia #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after their 4-3 win over the New York Mets at Turner Field on June 23, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)