NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Álvarez hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning and the New York Mets beat Atlanta 5-3 to split a doubleheader Monday after Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. exited the nightcap early with a bruised shoulder.
Sean Murphy had a pair of three-run homers in the opener and Acuña launched a 448-foot home run into the rarely reached third deck at Citi Field, powering the Braves to a 9-8 victory after the teams were rained out the previous two days.
The win was just the second in eight games for the Mets, who snapped a six-game losing streak to their NL East rivals. The Braves won their fifth straight division title last year after sweeping New York on the final weekend of the regular season.
“They’re a good team,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “We know they’re going to be there all year.”
Daniel Vogelbach hit an RBI double in the nightcap and Starling Marte had a run-scoring single to stake the Mets to a 2-0 lead. Drew Smith (2-1) tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings in relief of Tylor Megill, who carried a shutout into the sixth before giving up a three-run double to Eddie Rosario.