​ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Olson blasted two homers, Michael Harris II added a two-run shot, and Ozzie Albies also went deep as the Braves powered past the Mets 5-3 on Friday night. Atlanta now sits three games ahead of second-place Philadelphia in the NL East despite entering the four-game set with a 5-14 record since June 9. New York dropped to 16 games below .500 for the first time since 2018. The most games under .500 for a team that reached the postseason was 16 by the 1914 Boston Braves at 12-28, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Braves rediscovered their power, launching four homers in the win. They hadn’t homered three times in a game since a 5-2 victory at Cincinnati on May 30, a game in which Ronald Acuña Jr. contributed two of the homers before his current stint out since June 10 with a left hamstring strain. His absence has coincided with Atlanta’s downturn.
In a bid to bolster offense, Atlanta signed Andrew McCutchen to a minor league deal. For the Mets, Juan Soto delivered a two-run homer.
Braves right-hander Grant Holmes (5-4) held Texas to five hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings. Raisel Iglesias escaped a ninth-inning threat, giving up a run-scoring single to Bo Bichette before recording his 17th save.
Mets right-hander Christian Scott (2-1) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks in four innings. New York, last in the NL East, has dropped 10 of 12. Interim manager Andy Green shuffled the lineup, moving Carson Benge from the leadoff spot to fifth after he had led off every game since May 12 and collecting one hit. A.J. Ewing also started at leadoff for the first time this season, reaching on a fielding error by Olson at first base and scoring on Soto’s third-inning homer to left.
Up next, Atlanta’s Chris Sale was slated to face New York’s Sean Manaea (1-3, 4.71) in Saturday night’s left-handed duel.