The New York Mets' Keon Broxton steals second base as Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson goes high for the throw from catcher Tyler Flowers during the fourth inning of Friday night's game in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright, left, exits for a reliever during the fourth inning of Friday night's game against the New York Mets in Atlanta.ATLANTA - Brandon Nimmo didn't mind getting dropped from first to eighth in the New York Mets' batting order.
Nimmo couldn't say for sure if he felt less pressure Friday night against the Atlanta Braves, but he managed to capitalize on pitches in the strike zone instead of missing or fouling them off.
"That's what I've been I've been doing mostly," he said. "I was glad to do that and find the barrel a couple of times."
Nimmo hit a two-run homer and Jeff McNeil added a two-run double as the Mets kept hitting even without Pete Alonso, beating the Braves 6-2.
The Mets have scored at least six runs in six straight games and got there against Atlanta with the rookie Alonso, the team's hottest hitter, getting most of the night off. The first-place Mets, who have won three straight, scored four times in the fourth inning on McNeil's hit and RBI doubles from Robinson Cano and Michael Conforto.
Zack Wheeler (1-1) worked six solid innings after giving up a career-high seven runs in his last start. He allowed six hits, two runs and three walks, striking out eight.
"I was actually watching a video of (Atlanta) last year and watching myself," Wheeler said. "I noticed I was a lot slower out of the windup. I got a stopwatch and timed it. I was way faster, so I slowed myself down and was more consistent today."
New York went ahead 2-1 in the second on Nimmo's second homer.
Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the first on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly. Ronald Acuña Jr.'s RBI double in the fifth made it 6-2.
Braves rookie starter Kyle Wright (0-2) gave up eight hits, six runs and four walks and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings.
Wright, the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2017, has made seven major league appearances, and the Braves have yet to win a game in which he has pitched.
"The biggest thing is everything plays off the fastball," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He's just got to command it at both sides. It's just part of a young pitcher. He'll get it. The stuff is too good not to be really successful. He'll have games like that. He'll learn from it, and going forward he'll be better for it."
New York improved to 8-3 against division opponents and 9-4 overall. Atlanta dropped to 2-6 against National League East competition this season.
By scoring at least six runs in six straight games, New York tied for the longest such streak in franchise history. Its previous six-game run scoring six or more was from Sept. 18-23, 2007.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway stuck to his plan of giving Alonso, ranked second in the majors in slugging percentage and tied for third with six homers and 17 RBIs, a break during a stretch of nine games in nine days. Alonso popped up as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
Callaway dropped Nimmo to eighth as he began the night batting .150 with 23 strikeouts, most in the majors, in 38 at-bats. Nimmo went 3-for4, pushing his average to .205, and scored two runs. He also had a bunt single that helped spark the fourth.
Braves catcher Brian McCann was in uniform the second straight day for batting practice. Sidelined by a right hamstring strain, he is eligible to come off the injured list next week.
Saturday night's game at SunTrust Park will match up left-handed starters on the mound.
The Mets' Jason Vargas (1-0, 9.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season after pitching one scoreless inning of relief earlier this week. He is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta.
Atlanta's Sean Newcomb (0-0, 1.64) is 2-2 with a 1.82 ERA in six career starts against New York.