Blair earns first victory as Braves defeat Mets
NEW YORK -- Freddie Freeman continued his road mastery of the New York Mets Monday night, when the Atlanta Braves first baseman collected four hits -- including a homer -- and three RBIs to lead the Braves to a 7-3 win at Citi Field.
Rookie right-hander Aaron Blair earned his first major league victory with six solid innings for the Braves (59-91), who have won three straight to improve to 9-8 this month. Atlanta, which has not had a winning month all season, needs to win at least four of the final 12 games to avoid the franchise's first 100-loss campaign since 1988.
The Mets (80-70) had a three-game winning streak snapped. New York, which is 20-8 since Aug. 20, entered Monday one game ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the race for the NL's top wild card and two games ahead of the third-place St. Louis Cardinals.
Freeman grounded out on the first pitch he saw in the first inning but homered in the third and laced a two-run double in the fourth before singling and scoring in the seventh and singling in the eighth. He has a 23-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in his last 39 games.
The big night lifted Freeman's OPS at Citi Field to .922, his highest mark at any park in which he's recorded at least 100 at-bats. Freeman has 39 RBIs at Citi Field, his most at any road ballpark, and eight homers, second most behind Nationals Park.
Rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson had three singles and three RBIs -- including a two-run single in the seventh that capped the Braves' scoring -- while Ender Inciarte had an RBI single in the second. Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp each went 2-for-5 to extend their hitting streaks to 11 games apiece.
Blair, who entered the game 0-6 with an 8.23 ERA in 12 career starts, allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four.
T.J. Rivera hit a two-run homer for the Mets while James Loney had three hits, including an RBI double in the ninth. Curtis Granderson also had three hits.
Right-hander Noah Syndergaard (13-9) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out five over 3 2/3 innings.
Syndergaard needed just 10 pitches in a perfect first inning, but his command eluded him in the second, when the Braves scored twice on two walks and three singles, including RBI hits by Swanson and Inciarte.
Freeman led off the third with a homer and added a two-run, two-out double in the fourth to extend the Braves' lead to 5-0. A single by Matt Kemp finally chased Syndergaard, who lasted fewer than four innings for just the third time in 53 career starts.
Blair didn't allow a hit until Granderson singled with two outs in the fourth. Rivera homered on the next pitch to pull the Mets within 5-2.
NOTES: Despite several hours of rain earlier in the afternoon, the game started as scheduled at 7:10 p.m. ET. ... Mets LHP Steven Matz (left shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session at Citi Field on Wednesday. If it goes well, Matz could start Friday. ... Mets LF Yoenis Cespedes returned to the lineup after leaving Sunday's game after six innings because of nausea and dizziness. ... Braves RHP Ryan Weber will start the series finale on Wednesday. It will be the second start of the season for Weber, who allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings in relief of RHP John Gant on Friday. ... The Braves' hotel in New York City is the same one hosting various world leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly