The Mets have already beaten the Yankees handily, and they continued their dominance in dramatic fashion on Thursday.
They opened their four-game series with a 3-2, 10th-inning victory over Atlanta at Citi Field, capped by a two-out single by Jeff McNeil that scored free runner Jose Iglesias.
The Mets have now won four straight games, narrowing the gap on the struggling Braves in the National League wild card race to just half a game.
The Mets have won 14 of their last 17 games in Queens, snapping a five-game losing streak for Atlanta.
After leadoff batter J.D. Martinez struck out in the bottom of the 10th, Pete Alonso was intentionally walked with Pierce Johnson on the mound.
Mark Vientos struck out, but McNeil, suddenly in good form, hit a ball up the right field line that Ramon Laureano misplayed for the winning run.
Phil Mutton took to the mound in the top of the 10th, and things started to get interesting after Orlando Arcia bunted to send Laureano to third base with no runs.
With former Mets prospect Jarred Kelenic at bat, Laureano headed home for an apparent squeeze play, but Kelenic didn’t bunt — in fact, he pulled his bat back as the pitch came.
Laureano was involved in a rundown and was tagged out by Francisco Alvarez, but Alvarez disputed that Laureano had pushed him with his shoulder during the touch.
Cool head prevailed, and Matthon got Kelenic out on a comeback to end the inning.
It was a rocky start to a crucial series.
Luis Severino saved Marcell Ozuna from walking after Austin Riley’s one-out double in the top of the first inning.
But the bottom of the Braves’ lineup took on a right-handed pitcher in the second inning, and Laureano singled through the left side of the infield with two outs, stole second base and scored the first run of the game on Arcia’s base hit to right.
Chris Sale had allowed two runs or fewer in his previous seven starts and 13 of his previous 14 appearances.
The 35-year-old is enjoying his best season since his career was interrupted in 2020 by Tommy John surgery.
Sale struck out the first five batters he faced, and McNeil reached base with an infield single and then was called out while attempting to advance to second base.
The Mets went on the offensive against Sale in the third inning, starting with a one-out walk by Tyrone Taylor and leading off with Francisco Lindor’s 22nd home run of the season, a two-run homer to center field that made the score 2-1.
It was Lindor’s fifth home run in his past four games, and “MVP” chants greeted him as he rounded the bases.
But Sale didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
Severino needed 61 pitches over the three innings, but threw just seven in the fourth inning when he gave up the lead.
In the top of the sixth, he allowed three consecutive runners to tie the score at one, then with a runner on second and no outs, he was replaced by Jose Bhutto, who scored the next three runs to keep the score tied.
The right-handed pitcher, who began as a relief pitcher earlier this season, struck out all nine batters he faced before being replaced by Diaz in the top of the ninth inning.
Diaz walked Eddie Rosario to start the inning, then pinch runner Whit Merrifield stole second base.
But Diaz recovered and struck out Nacho Alvarez Jr. for the first out.
Merrifield then tried to steal third base but was caught by Alvarez, and Diaz struck out Laureano swinging.
