Brandon Nimmo went from hurting his ribs to hitting a Braves in the gut with his ribs.
Nimmo, who was removed from the starting lineup after leaving Saturday’s game with a discomfort in his ribs, entered Sunday’s game as a pinch runner and then showed off his highlight defense in left field.
But he saved the best for last.
Nimmo hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth inning, helping the Mets salvage a 4-3 weekend series win against the Braves at Citi Field.
Nimmo took on left-hander AJ Minter and went over the fence in right-center, sparking a celebration that ended with a Gatorade bath.
Jeff McNeil’s bunt single at the top of the 9th inning started the winning rally, and Thomas Nido advanced the runner to second base with a sacrifice hit.
Nimmo then hit the big hit the Mets had been missing in the series.
Luis Severino pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Severino pitched a no-hitter until the eighth inning against the Cubs, making him a fifth-inning starter for the second straight year.
Jared Kelenic’s home run in the second inning gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Playing at Citi Field for the first time in this series, the former Mets first-round pick hit a 96 mph four-seam off Severino over the right-field fence for his second home run of the season.
In the third inning, Pete Alonso’s RBI single tied the score at 1-1.
After singles by DJ Stewart and Francisco Lindor started the rally, Alonso hit a shot along the third base line to score, continuing his recent run of form after going 1-of-32.
But with runners on the corners and two outs, J.D. Martinez hit a called strike three from Bryce Elder to end the threat.
Martinez, who singled in his first at-bat, recorded the Mets’ only hit the day before with a home run in the ninth inning, ending the Braves’ total no-hitter streak.
Marcell Ozuna’s RBI single in the 6th inning put the Mets up 2-1.
Severino walked Zach Short, who started the first inning, and allowed a single to Matt Olson.
Reed Garrett replaced Severino and allowed the go-ahead single to Ozuna, then struck out the next three batters.
After Lindor hit a double in the first inning, Alonso’s RBI double tied the score in the sixth inning.
But with no one out and the Mets unable to bring in Alonso due to Martinez being retired, reliever Aaron Bummer struck out pinch hitter Tyrone Taylor, allowing McNeil to make a soft comeback.
Ronald Acuña Jr. was ejected from first base in the fifth and seventh innings, limiting any potential Braves comeback.
Acuña singled in the fifth inning, and Severino singled out.
In the seventh inning, Acuña walked and was taken by Garrett.
The Mets got a tying hit in scoring position in the seventh inning following a walk by Stewart, but neither Lindor nor Alonso could hit, leaving the score 2-2.
In the 8th inning against Adam Ottavino, Short walked and stole second, then Ozuna hit an RBI homer to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.
