NEW YORK - Free-agent prize Marcell Ozuna introduced himself to new fans back in Atlanta with a big swing when it counted most.
Just the sort of ingratiation still evading shaky closer Edwin Díaz more than a year into his stint with the New York Mets.
Ozuna hit a tying homer off Díaz with two outs in the ninth inning, Dansby Swanson scored automatic runner Adam Duvall with a leadoff single in the 10th and the Braves beat the Mets 5-3 on Saturday.
"He's one of those guys that those situations don't faze him," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of Ozuna, who as a St. Louis outfielder last season caused trouble for the Braves in a National League Division Series the Cardinals won in five games. "That guy can hit."
New York loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th with no outs against Luke Jackson (1-0). Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith managed a sacrifice fly, but Jackson recovered and retired Wilson Ramos to end it.
Ozuna, signed to an $18 million one-year deal in January, energized Atlanta's struggling offense with his opposite-field drive against Díaz. Ozuna went with a 3-2 fastball just off the outside corner and roped it out to right field for his first home run with the Braves, who lost 1-0 to the Mets in Friday's opener.
"Today is not a day I'm going to lose my confidence over," Díaz said through a translator, saying he located the 98 mph fastball exactly where he wanted.
Mets reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) was charged with an unearned run on Swanson's RBI in Major League Baseball's second game featuring a new extra-innings rule that gives teams a free baserunner on second from the 10th on. The Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-4 late Friday night in the first game in which the rule, at use the past few seasons in the minors, was put to the test.
"It's another one of these changes that we might end up liking," Snitker said. "Made it interesting."
Strickland later bobbled a grounder, allowing Swanson to score, and also gave up an RBI double to William Contreras - the first MLB hit for the younger brother of Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.
Duvall also homered for Atlanta, drilling a cardboard likeness of Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil's dog with his solo shot in the second inning. Duvall's homer was one of two hits against New York starter Steven Matz.
McNeil countered with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Díaz couldn't make it stand.
An American League All-Star with the Seattle Mariners in 2018, Díaz labored through a brutal 2019 with a 5.59 ERA and seven blown saves. He gave up a whopping 15 homers in 58 innings and lost his job as closer.
"I'm not concerned," Mets manager Luis Rojas said. "It's one outing. We like how Díaz has been throwing the ball."
Díaz looked sharp in saving Friday's opener and was poised to convert saves in consecutive games for the first time since 2018. Until Ozuna struck.
Just in time for Atlanta, too. The Braves struck out 15 times in 30 at-bats Friday and had just four hits Saturday before his drive.
"We've always been positive, and we're going to be together fighting for every single pitch, every single out," Ozuna said. "We're always trying to do damage. Today was a good game to come back and do some damage."
Braves left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried opened with four hitless innings but stumbled in the fifth. Michael Conforto doubled and scored on Amed Rosario's triple, and Rosario came home easily on McNeil's sacrifice fly to deep left field.
Fried was pulled after the fifth. He allowed two runs, two walks and two hits while striking out five.
Matz followed Jacob deGrom's opening gem with another strong outing. The left-hander covered six one-run innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Atlanta's primary catchers, Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud, remained in Atlanta with coronavirus symptoms. Snitker said they are "still not feeling great." Neither has registered a positive test.