Braves defeat Mets to secure playoff spot, Diamondbacks eliminated

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves rebounded from a stunning loss in the first game of a makeup doubleheader to clinch the final postseason berth with a 3-0 victory over the Mets in the nightcap on Monday after New York tied for 8th :0 had secured the playoff trip. 7th victory in the opening.

With three teams fighting for the final two playoff spots in the National League, the Braves faced the Mets in a doubleheader scheduled between the scheduled end of the regular season and the start of the Wild Card Series.

The reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks could only watch from afar and were eliminated as their NL East rivals made up two rained-out games last week as Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States

The Diamondbacks needed a team to win, so after clinching their postseason berth by overcoming a 3-0 deficit 3-0 in the eighth inning and 7-6 in the ninth inning, they moved for the Mets Francisco Lindor's two-run home run took the lead for good.

Grant Holmes, who filled in after Braves ace Chris Sale was scratched because of back spasms, pitched four scoreless innings in the second, and Marcell Ozuna gave the Braves some breathing room with a two-run single in the seventh.

Celebrations erupted with champagne sprays at both clubhouses at Truist Park.

With their spot locked up for the postseason, the Mets added left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the roster to start the second game. The 31-year-old left-hander spent most of the season at Triple-A Syracuse and gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his only big league appearance before Monday.

He was a completely different pitcher against the Braves, who were perhaps still a bit shell-shocked after losing the opener. Lucchesi (0-2) allowed just three hits in a game spanning six innings and 111 pitches, including a run-scoring single to Gio Urshela.

Daybel Hernandez (3-0) secured the win and Raisel Iglesias made his 34th save in 37 chances.

After Lindor's 33rd home run, the Mets could breathe a sigh of relief.

New York erased a 3-0 deficit with a six-run eighth, capped by Brandon Nimmo's two-run home run. The Braves regained the lead with four runs in the bottom half when Ozzie Albies delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs for a 7-6 lead.

The Mets weren't done yet. Starling Marte hit a single with one out against Pierce Johnson (7-5) and Lindor delivered a drive into the Braves bullpen in right center.

“I got the pitch I wanted and you never know if the ball is going to go out of bounds or not,” Lindor said. “But I feel like I got it 100 percent, and I just kept saying, 'Thank you, Jesus.' We're one step closer, we have to finish it.

Edwin Díaz (6-4) secured the win with a season-high 40 pitches despite giving up Albies' go-ahead run, which came after the Mets reached two-out on a play that allowed Jarred Kelenic to reach. could not cover first infield hits.

Díaz demanded to return to the mound for the ninth time.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m going back out there,” he recalled telling coach Carlos Mendoza.

The Braves had the potential tying score at second in the ninth, but Díaz struck out Ramón Laureano and retired Travis d'Arnaud with a grounder to shortstop.

New York had lost 77 straight games since May 17, 2023, when trailing by three runs in the eighth inning or later. Díaz slammed his glove to the ground and the Mets celebrated briefly behind the mound after clinching their 11th postseason berth in 63 seasons, their first since 2022.

“Have you ever seen a game like this?” Mets owner Steve Cohen posted on X.

Albies, a switch-hitter who can only hit with his right hand while dealing with ongoing pain from a wrist injury, hit a two-run home run in the third and a bases-clearing double in the eighth Base of the wall. Laureano also hit a home run for the Braves.

After managing just three singles in the first seven innings against rookie Spencer Schwanzenbach, the Mets' offense came to life in the eighth inning.

Schlafenbach was sent off after Tyrone Taylor's leadoff double. Joe Jiménez didn't strike out anyone and allowed three straight hits, allowing the Mets to make it 3-2.

Atlanta then turned to closer Raisel Iglesias, but he allowed a game-tying single to Jose Iglesias, a sacrifice fly to Mark Vientos and Nimmo's 23rd home run to the right field pitches.

Atlanta had held Sale back because his scheduled start last week was rained out, saying they wanted to use him in an elimination game.

However, he was unable to throw due to back spasms, which Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said only occurred after a throwing session on Sunday.

“It’s not an IL thing,” Braves general manager Alex Tnthopoulos said. “It's an everyday thing. If we could let him pitch and it was safe to do that, we would. Regardless, we need him to get where we want to go.”