ATLANTA BRAVES BEAT FIRST-PLACE NEW YORK METS IN AN NL EAST BATTLE AT CITI FIELD

The Atlanta Braves defeated the New York Mets 12-5 on Tuesday evening in the third outing of a five-game National League East set at Citi Field in New York. It allowed the Braves to take a 2-1 lead in the series over the division-leading Mets.

Austin Riley led the charge offensively with six RBIs to include a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning, the second grand slam of his career. Riley also clubbed a two-run homer in the sixth. Ozzie Albies and Abraham Almonte each contributed two-run shots in the second and third, respectively. Dansby Swanson drove in a pair of runs on an RBI double in the first.

Charlie Morton secured the win for Atlanta after giving up three runs and five hits, walking two, and striking out five over five innings.

Jeff McNeil hit a two-run homer for New York off of Morton in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Drury had a two-run shot off Edgar Santana in the seventh. Jared Eickhoff was charged with the loss.

The Braves improved to 50-51 on the season and remain in third place of the NL East, now four games behind the first place Mets. Those teams will meet again tonight at 7:10 pm. That outing will be broadcast on WLAQ 1410 AM and 96.9 FM; air time is 5:55 pm.