Conforto carries Mets past Braves
ATLANTA -- Michael Conforto continued his offensive splurge since being moved to the leadoff spot, coming up with a home run and three RBIs in the New York Mets' 7-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
The left-fielder was 2-for-4 with a walk and his seventh home run. He improved to 14-for-40 (.350) in the 10 games in which he has batted first. He led off the game with a home run and had a two-out, two-run single to cap a five-run outburst in the fourth that put the Mets ahead to stay.
Winning pitcher Robert Gsellman (1-2) allowed five earned runs for the second straight start. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed six hits and one walk without striking out a batter, and he nearly allowed a 6-1 lead to slip away.
The Mets got four innings of scoreless relief from Josh Edgin, Hansel Robles, Jerry Blevins, Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned his second save.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (2-2) allowed six runs in six innings, one more run than he had allowed in his seven previous starts combined against New York. Teheran struck out five and walked three before being lifted for a pinch hitter.
The Mets got an insurance run in the eighth when Jose Reyes hit a solo homer, his third, against reliever Ian Krol.
Both teams hit home runs to lead off the game. Conforto got the Mets on the board with a shot to center, and Ender Inciarte answered by starting the bottom of the inning with a homer to right field for the Braves.
The game stayed tied until the Mets sent 10 men to the plate in the third inning and produced five runs to take a 6-1 lead. Neil Walker, Jose Reyes and T.J. Rivera each drove in one run and Conforto knocked in a pair with a single.
Atlanta got two runs back in the bottom of the third. Nick Markakis plated a run with an infield grounder and Adonis Garcia added an RBI single to make it 6-3.
NOTES: The Mets put RHP Noah Syndergaard on the 10-day disabled list with a partial tear in his right lat muscle. He was replaced on the roster by RHP Paul Sewald, who has split time with the Mets and Triple-A Las Vegas. No starting pitcher has been named for Syndergaard's spot in the rotation on Friday, but manager Terry Collins said the best bets are LHP Sean Gilmartin and RHP Rafael Montero. ... Atlanta RHP Mauricio Cabrera will pitch one inning for Triple-A Gwinnett on a rehab assignment Tuesday. Cabrera has been out all season with a right elbow strain. ... Braves OF Ender Inciarte was presented his Gold Glove in a pregame ceremony. ... Atlanta 2B Brandon Phillips went 0-for-4, ending his 13-game hitting streak.