Ruben Tejada lifts Mets over Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 11 innings

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

photo New York Mets Ruben Tejada (11) smiles as he looks back at his teammates after hitting an 11th inning, game-winning, walk-off, RBI single in the Mets 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game in New York, on Monday, July 7, 2014.

NEW YORK - Ruben Tejada singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning, Curtis Granderson hit a tying homer in the eighth and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Monday night.

David Wright went deep early, Travis d'Arnaud had an RBI double and Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven shutout innings for the Mets, who have won three of four. They took the opener of a four-game series after getting swept by the NL East leaders in Atlanta last week.

New York nemesis Freddie Freeman had three hits and a walk for the Braves, who won nine in a row before Sunday's 3-1 loss to Arizona. Andrelton Simmons singled twice for his sixth straight multihit game.

Carlos Torres (4-4) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Mike Minor allowed only two hits in seven innings on a 91-degree night, an encouraging outing for the Atlanta left-hander after he had a 5.21 ERA in his previous eight starts. He was in line for his first win since May 19 before Granderson connected off lefty Luis Avilan with two outs in the eighth to tie it at 3.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was ejected in the bottom of the ninth for arguing a call that was overturned on replay. After much discussion, Eric Campbell was ruled safe at second when replays showed Simmons came off the bag too soon as he took a throw and relayed to first.

Shae Simmons pitched out of the jam for Atlanta.

Juan Lagares doubled off Anthony Varvaro (3-2) with one out in the 11th, and Lucas Duda was intentionally walked before Lagares went to third on d'Arnaud's long fly to center.

Tejada lined the next pitch up the middle and tossed his helmet aside after rounding first. His jubilant teammates chased him down to celebrate in shallow center field.

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Matsuzaka was lifted after 100 pitches, a move that backfired on manager Terry Collins when Atlanta rallied for three runs with two outs in the eighth.

Freeman doubled off Vic Black with one out and scored from third when reliever Josh Edgin's first pitch sailed just over Jason Heyward's head. The ball kicked hard off the backstop and caromed up the third base line, allowing Freeman to come home easily on the wild pitch.

Heyward then singled to center, ending an impressive streak for Edgin. He had retired his first hitter in all 23 outings - a club record to start a season.

Collins went to closer Jenrry Mejia, and Chris Johnson doubled off the top of the center-field fence to tie it 2-all. After an intentional walk to Tommy La Stella, fellow rookie Christian Bethancourt punched a go-ahead single to right.

New York's improving bullpen had a 1.97 ERA in the previous 21 games.