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Wiedmer: Braves still worth a look
NEW YORK - Dilson Herrera put paper cups on his ears. Rally cups.
Juan Lagares wore orange wristbands that feature a funny-looking drawing of himself.
Whatever the New York Mets did Sunday to inspire some positive mojo, it certainly worked.
Lagares hit a go-ahead homer and the Mets used a surprising power surge to erase a five-run deficit, beating the Atlanta Braves 10-8 for their biggest comeback victory since 2011.
"That's an amazing win right there," said Lagares, given a replica championship belt as the star of the game. "The whole team battled the whole game."
Darrell Ceciliani launched his first major league home run, and Herrera also had a solo shot in the fourth inning. Travis d'Arnaud's two-run drive off reliever Brandon Cunniff trimmed the deficit to 8-7 in the fifth.
Pinch-hitter Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson singled in the sixth before Lagares pulled a 1-2 breaking ball from Luis Avilan (2-2) into the left-field stands. Lagares held his bat aloft for a moment as he began his trot around the bases, then celebrated in the dugout with excited teammates who pointed at his wristbands.
"I don't think anybody ever felt like we were out of it," d'Arnaud said. "Shows the fight and resiliency this team has."
Wilmer Flores had an early two-run single for the Mets, who took two of three in the series. The hitters bailed out Dillon Gee, knocked around in a spot start five days after his first relief appearance in more than four years.
Lagares and Granderson both finished with three hits on Banner Day at Citi Field. None of the four Mets who went deep have more than three homers this season.
The previous time New York won after trailing by at least five runs was Sept. 22, 2011, at St. Louis.
New father Jeurys Familia got four outs for his 19th save in 20 tries, aided by Herrera's sensational play at second base to end the eighth.
Sean Gilmartin (1-0) worked two hitless innings for his first career win, striking out three.
"He did a great job. Right when we needed those innings, he gave them to us," manager Terry Collins said.
Jace Peterson hit his second major league homer for the Braves, a three-run shot. He tied a career high with three hits and scored three times from the leadoff spot.
Kelly Johnson had three hits and two RBIs, and Juan Uribe also got three hits. But rookie starter Mike Foltynewicz failed to make it through five innings after he was handed leads of 5-1 and 8-3.
"I just didn't have it today," Foltynewicz said. "It's not a question of confidence. I know how good I am and what I'm capable of. I just have to keep attacking, and work my way through it."
After he was pulled, the latest meltdown by a struggling bullpen left the Braves with their 10th loss in 14 games at Citi Field.
Atlanta lost for the fourth time this year when scoring at least eight runs. New York had not won when allowing eight or more since beating San Diego 9-8 on Aug. 8, 2011. That was the longest current drought in the majors.
"Couldn't stop them from scoring," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.