What the Mets had to say about recent success, snapping losing streak at Truist Park

ATLANTA — An awkward silence fell over the crowd twice at Truist Park on Monday night. Ronald Acuña Jr. barely flinched at his post in right field as the ball went sailing over his head each time.

For the first time in eight games between the Mets and Braves in Atlanta, the groans outweighed the cheers from the home fans.

With a balanced offensive effort up and down the lineup, the Mets broke out in a huge way, using home runs from DJ Stewart, Rafael Ortega and Francisco Lindor to break away for a 10-4 victory over the Braves on Monday night at Truist Park. It snapped a seven-game winless streak for the Mets on the road in Atlanta.

"This year it's been a little more of a challenge," Buck Showalter said. "We won the same number of games (last year), but this year it's been different. It doesn't mean you quit competing and don't keep trying to win games. It's a hard place to win because they're really good."

Eight of the nine members of the Mets lineup collected a hit, with Jeff McNeil providing three hits, while four others chipped in two apiece.

The Mets have now won seven of their last nine games to improve to 59-67.

"The intensity and the competitiveness guys continue to show. Guys are getting an opportunity," Showalter said. "The guys that set the examples like Pete (Alonso) and Jeff and (Brandon Nimmo) and Lindor, they continue to play the game and guys are following that lead."

DJ Stewart, Rafael Ortega provide a spark

The Mets will now have a pair of chances against the Braves' Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton to grab their fourth series win in their last five.

The only series that the Mets lost over the last two weeks was a three-game drubbing at the hands of the Braves in New York when the home side was outscored 34-3 in the opening three games. In a 21-3 laugher in the opening game of the teams' doubleheader on Saturday, Allan Winans, a former 17th round pick of the Mets who was lost in the Rule 5 Draft, tossed seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.

Winans was not as lucky in his second outing against his former team on Monday night. The long balls by Stewart and Ortega — his first as a member of the Mets — staked them to a 3-0 lead before the Braves came back to lead by one.

"I like to see that a guy that pitched well against us last time that we made some adjustments to him and did a little better job this time," Showalter said.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Mets knocked four straight singles off Winans to run him from the game. Those hits were followed by a safety squeeze from Stewart to boost the Mets ahead 7-4 after five.

"There's a little bit of a learning period, learning everyone and what everyone can do, whether you played with them at spring training or not, just getting comfortable with everyone," Stewart said. "I think you're kind of seeing that on the field.

"The clubhouse is upbeat and we're enjoying playing with each other and enjoying the time that we have with each other in the clubhouse. I think we're seeing that on the field."

David Peterson's quest continues

David Peterson is still looking to showcase why he belongs in the Mets' starting pitching plans for 2023.

Monday's outing was his deepest since he returned to the rotation on Aug. 4 as he worked 4⅔ innings, but he also allowed four earned runs on seven hits. Peterson, who walked a season-high six batters his last time out, displayed better command as he issued two walks in his outing while striking out four.

"I definitely wanted to go deeper in the game, and they made it tough. They're a good team," Peterson said. "It felt like even though I gave up some runs, we kind of jumped back on them and were able to keep us in there when I came out and the bullpen did an outstanding job behind me."

Peterson surrendered a pair of solo home runs to Marcell Ozuna. The first came on a slider on the inside corner, while the second was a hanging changeup.

Some weak contact helped to inflate Peterson's line. An infield single by Orlando Arcia and opposite-field poke by Acuna led to a two-run single by Michael Harris II.

The four earned runs were the most that Peterson has given up as a starting pitcher since he rejoined the Mets' roster on June 27.

"I think there was a couple of pitches that kind of hurt me. I don't necessarily think they were bad pitches, I think guys put good swings on them," Peterson said. "One through nine, they're tough at bats. There's not really a break there."

The Mets' bullpen closed the door as Phil Bickford, Sam Coonrod, Adam Ottavino and Drew Smith held the Braves scoreless across the final 4⅓ innings with two hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.

Bickford earned the win, coming on for Peterson and tossing 1⅓ innings with three strikeouts and one hit.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Convincing win snaps seven-game losing streak in Atlanta