Snitker ejected, then Garcia’s homer lifts Braves past Mets

Before the Cuban third baseman hit an 0-2 pitch from reliever Addison Reed with one out in the eighth, bringing the Braves from a run back to a 4-3 lead, the loudest applause came when Snitker sent a charge through the place with his emotional reaction to a umpire-review decision that ended Atlanta's seventh inning.

“That,” said Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler, “was awesome.”

Garcia said, “Admiration is the first thing that comes to mind. You just always know that Snit has your back.”

With the Braves trailing 3-2 and two runners in scoring position in the seventh inning, Ender Inciarte hit a fly ball that left fielder Michael Conforto caught in foul territory. Emilio Bonifacio tagged up and was called out on a close play at the plate when he slid into catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who was on top of the plate.

Replays showed Bonifacio’s knee or foot might have touched the plate before the tag, but the call was confirmed upon video review. Umpires ruled the tag was made before he touched the plate and also that d’Arnaud – the brother of Braves utility player Chase d’Arnaud – did not violate the home-plate collision rule.

Snitker was livid, and home-plate umpire Jordan Baker tossed him after a couple of choice words from Snitker, who continued arguing and followed crew chief Mike Everitt toward third base. Snitker gestured with his arms, shouting and eventually taking off his cap and waving it in the air as he let Everitt know what he thought of the ruling.

A crowd of 22,324 roared with approval for Snitker, just moments after they’d booed lustily when the call was confirmed.

“It’s just one of those things, it was the right time (to argue), I thought,” Snitker said. “Guys are laying it out there for me.”

Wisler got no decision for the Braves after allowing seven hits, three runs and four walks in 6 2/3 innings. He left with two on base in the seventh, and Dario Alvarez got the Braves out of that jam to set up Garcia’s game-changing homer in the eighth.

In his first game back in the lineup after missing five starts with a sore ankle, Garcia hit his fourth homer of the season, all of which have tied a game or put the Braves ahead — as have nine of his 14 career homers in two seasons with the Braves.

“I’ve had some good luck, and it feels like a majority of them have come here at Turner Field, so it always feels good go to be able to do it at home,” said Garcia, who has hit 12 of his 14 homers at Turner Field. “I’m just grateful for the opportunities and grateful that those times it worked out and we were able to get the lead. That’s what it’s all about, just helping the team out.”

The season isn’t half-over yet and Matt Harvey has already made four starts against the Braves. He got no decision Thursday after allowing eight hits and two runs in six innings and leaving with a 3-2 lead. Harvey is 0-3 with a 4.58 ERA in three career home starts against the Braves and 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA in four at Turner Field.

A.J. Pierzynski drove in both runs against Harvey with a fourth-inning single and a two-out double in the sixth, which made the 39-year-old catcher 8-for-12 with four RBIs in his career against the right-hander. He drove in Nick Markakis both times.

Wisler pitched on two extra days’ rest after the Braves decided to push back his scheduled start Wednesday. He was 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA in four starts against the Mets before Thursday, beginning with a superb major league debut when Wisler limited them to six hits and one run in eight innings to win on June 19, 2015.

He hadn’t turned in a finer performance until facing the Mets on May 3 at New York, where Wisler allowed just one hit and two walks in eight scoreless innings.

In his last start before Thursday, Wisler snapped a four-start losing streak by allowing two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of a win against the Reds on June 16.

Alejandro De Aza snapped an 0-for-20 skid with a line-drive double to center that scored Conforto from first base for a 1-0 lead with one out. Conforto walked to start the inning, the third walk issued in a span of four batters by Wisler, who hadn’t walked more than three all season.

“I’ve got to be better,” he said. “I’m not attacking hitters, I’m not doing that right now. But the offense picked us up today.”