Braves 13, Mets 5
ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman matched his career-best with five RBI in a 13-5 win over the New York Mets on Monday.
Freeman went 2-for-5 with a two-run double in the first inning and a long three-run homer, his 18th, in the second to pace the Braves to their seventh win in their last eight games.
The top three in the Atlanta batting order went 8-for-15 with four runs and six RBI. Leadoff hitter Jordan Schafer went 4-for-5 with three stolen bases, two runs scored and one RBI before leaving the game with a lower back strain. Justin Upton went 2-for-4 with two walks, a double and scored three runs.
Atlanta pounded 17 hits off seven New York pitchers and cut its magic number to winning the National League East to 12. It matched the most runs the team has scored in a game this year.
Atlanta starter Paul Maholm (10-10) wasn't sharp, but got through five innings and snapped a four-game losing streak. He gave up three runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four. Maholm has allowed 25 runs (23 earned) over his last 29 2/3 innings, a 6.99 ERA, but won his first decision since July 5 at the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Schafer reached on a bunt single, stole second and reached third on Upton's single. They both scored when Freeman doubled over the head of right fielder Andrew Brown.
The Mets got one run back in the second when Daisuke Matsuzaka laced a two-out single to center to score Juan Lagares, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on Anthony Recker's walk.
Atlanta added four runs in the second inning thanks to an RBI single by Schafer and Freeman's homer.
The Mets cut the lead to 6-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth on a pinch-hit double by Zach Lutz and a sacrifice fly by Daniel Murphy.
The Braves got those two runs back in the fifth on a two-out two-RBI double by Andrelton Simmons
NOTES: The Mets signed RHP Aaron Harang to a minor league contract and assigned him to Class AAA Las Vegas. He will be recalled when the minor league season ends. ... 1B Ike Davis, who left Saturday's game with a strained right oblique, returned to New York to be examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery early next week. ... The Braves purchased the contract of RHP Kameron Loe from Class AAA Gwinnett. ... New York starter Matsuzaka (0-3) was roughed up in his third start for the Mets. He gave up six runs on seven hits with two walks in three innings. Matsuzaka is 0-7 in his last eight starts, dating to Sept. 2, 2012.
