Braves 6, Mets 4
ATLANTA -- Shortstop Andrelton Simmons matched a career high with four hits to spark the Atlanta Braves to a 6-4 win over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Simmons was 4-for-4 with two runs and one RBI as the bottom of the order produced nine of the Braves' 10 hits.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski added three hits, including a double and a triple, and scored three runs, and left fielder Eury Perez had two infield singles.
The loss as the fourth straight for the Mets and, combined with Washington's win over Pittsburgh, dropped New York out of first place in the National League East.
The Braves scored twice in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. Pierzynski doubled, went to third a single by Simmons, stayed there on a bunt single by Perez and scored on pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco's sacrifice fly to left.
Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud hyperextended his left arm in a collision with Pierzynski at the plate and had to leave the game. X-rays were negative and d'Arnaud is day to day.
Simmons added an insurance run when center fielder Cameron Maybin grounded into a fielder's choice.
The winning pitcher was rookie Williams Perez (4-0), who allowed four runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Atlanta got three shutout innings from its maligned bullpen. Luis Avilan pitched the seventh, Jim Johnson worked the eighth and Jason Grilli finished in the ninth for his 20th save.
Mets starter Noah Syndergaard pitched only four innings, matching his shortest stint in the major leagues. He allowed four runs, six hits and two walks with three strikeouts while throwing 88 pitches on a humid night.
The losing pitcher was reliever Jack Leathersich (0-1).
The Mets tied the score on a solo home run by d'Arnaud, his fourth homer of teh season, to lead off the sixth.
The Mets scored two runs in the first inning for the first time since June 10. They loaded the bases when right fielder Curtis Granderson and shortstop Ruben Tejada had back-to-back singles and left fielder Michael Cuddyer was hit by a pitch before d'Arnaud singled to drive in two runs.
Atlanta cut the lead to 2-1 in the second. Pierzynski tripled to right field and scored on a single by Simmons.
The Braves tied the score 2-2 in the third. Second baseman Jace Peterson led off with a walk, stole second and went to third when d'Arnaud's throw went into center field after neither middle infielder covered the base on the steal attempt. Peterson scored on Maybin's infield grounder.
Atlanta scored twice in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Pierzynski and Simmons singled, with both runners moving up when Mets center fielder Juan Lagares mishandled the ball. Pierzynski scored on an infield single by Perez and Simmons came home on Peterson's sacrifice fly to right.
Perez had retired 12 of 13 hitters when Granderson broke the streak in the fifth with a homer to straightaway center that cut Atlanta's lead to 4-3.
NOTES: Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman did not start for the third consecutive game because of a sore right wrist. He is expected back Sunday. With Freeman out, manager Fredi Gonzalez continued to use Kelly Johnson at first base and Eury Perez in left feld. ... New York C Travis d'Arnaud was back in the lineup after taking Friday off. ... Both teams wore throwback uniforms from the Negro Leagues as part of Heritage Weekend. The Braves wore uniforms from the Atlanta Black Crackers, and the Mets wore the uniforms from the Brooklyn Royal Giants. ... The three-game series concludes on Sunday. RHP Matt Harvey (7-4, 3.32 ERA) will pitch for the Mets vs. Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (4-3, 5.07). Although this is the fourth series between the two teams, it will be the first time the Braves will have faced Harvey since 2013.