Braves 2, Mets 1
Pinch hitter Reed Johnson singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning as visiting Atlanta rallied to win the opener of a four-game series.
Trailing entering the ninth, the Braves tied the game on Chris Johnson’s RBI groundout off New York closer Bobby Parnell (5-5), scoring Evan Gattis. Reed Johnson followed with a line-drive single to center, driving in Dan Uggla to put the Braves ahead.
Jordan Walden (4-1) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief. Craig Kimbrel survived a hit batsman and a walk in the ninth for his 28th save, punctuated by Jason Heyward's diving catch in left-center field for the final out, and Gattis had two hits as the Braves improved to 2-2 since the All-Star break.
New York starter Dillon Gee held the Braves hitless until Freddie Freeman lined a single up the middle to start the seventh and allowed two hits in seven innings. Atlanta starter Julio Teheran surrendered one run on four hits in six innings with six strikeouts.
Marlon Byrd led off the New York fourth with a triple that squirted under Justin Upton’s glove in right field. Ike Davis, who finished 2-for-4, followed with a single to right to put the Mets ahead 1-0.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Heyward returned to the lineup after missing six games with a strained hamstring, going 0-for-3 with a walk. … New York OF Juan Lagares earned National League Player of the Week honors after going 7-for-10 with five RBIs. … The Braves lead the season series 6-5.