The Braves struggled offensively throughout the afternoon, but Charlie Culberson delivered at the last minute.
Culberson’s pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth off Seth Lugo sent the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Mets in game 1 of Monday’s scheduled doubleheader.
It was the Rome native’s third-career walk-off. His first came in 2014, helping the Rockies beat the Mets.
His second came in legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully’s final game at Dodger Stadium in 2015, when Culberson’s walk-off shot lifted the Dodgers to a win over the Rockies and clinched them the National League West.
Tyler Flowers’ home run to begin the seventh provided the Braves’ first score. Nick Markakis’ sacrifice fly an inning later tied the game at 2.
Devin Mesoraco’s homer had given the Mets a 3-2 lead in the ninth, but the Braves, as they’ve done 44 times under manager Brian Snitker, rallied to win in their final at-bat.
The game was delayed 31 minutes in the middle of the sixth, but the rain didn’t chase Mets starter Jacob deGrom. The righty had pitched 17 scoreless innings against the Braves this season before Flowers’ solo shot, and finished Monday with seven innings of one-run ball on the afternoon.
Rookie Max Fried contained the Mets in his first start of the year. He went five innings, allowing two runs (one earned), walking four and striking out six. A Dansby Swanson error helped New York in the first inning, with Fried walking in an unearned run.
The Mets scored their second run in the fourth. Preston Tucker, playing left field with Ronald Acuna now on the disabled list, misjudged a ball that sailed over his head. It became an RBI double for Luis Guillorme.
It was in some ways a stolen win for the Braves, who once again had trouble with runners on base throughout the afternoon.
Freddie Freeman and Markakis singled to open the fourth, and Flowers walked to load the bases. Tucker and Johan Camargo struck out swinging and the Braves came up empty.
Flowers’ homer appeared to be the breakthrough the Braves needed. Tucker walked and Camargo smoked a ball off Asdrubal Cabrera’s glove to put runners at the corners with no one out in the seventh.
Swanson struck out before Kurt Suzuki’s eight-pitch at-bat ended in a popup to short. Ender Inciarte grounded out on the first pitch he saw and the Braves were left with just Flowers’ long ball to show for the seventh.
The win moved the Braves to 12-9 at SunTrust Park, as they brace for a home-heavy June.
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