Bo Bichette had two homers and tied a career-high with six RBIs Friday night for the host New York Mets, who beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in the opener of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.
The Mets have won two straight. Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski laced run-scoring singles in the second, and Matt Olson hit a solo homer in the fifth. Ozzie Albies and Eli White each collected an RBI single in the eighth for the Braves, who tied a season-high with their third consecutive loss.
Bichette and Juan Soto went back-to-back in the first off Spencer Strider (4-2) before Bichette capped a two-out rally in the second with his third career grand slam.
Bichette added a sacrifice fly in the fourth for his second six-RBI game and his first since Aug. 4, 2024 when he also had two homers and six RBIs for the Toronto Blue Jays in a 15-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Five pitchers combined on a nine-hitter for the Mets. Cionel Perez (3-3) earned the victory by recording four outs in relief of starter Nolan McLean. Devin Williams gave up two hits over the last 1 1/3 innings to notch his 10th save.
McLean was pulled after giving up two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out six and throwing 93 pitches in four innings.
McLean wriggled out of bases-loaded, none-out jam following the RBI hits by Smith and Yastrzemski, The rookie right-hander struck out Austin Wynns and retired Mauricio Dubon on pop-up to first before fanning Michael Harris II.
Strider gave up seven runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over three-plus innings before he departed due to a sore right arm following a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the fourth.
Strider retired four straight batters following Soto’s homer before running into trouble in the second. Melendez doubled and Luis Torrens singled off Strider’s glove before the right-hander plunked Carson Benge. Bichette homered just beyond the right field fence two pitches later.
