Austin Riley’s two homers, six RBIs lead Braves over Mets

After the Braves scored three runs over their past three games, they posted 10 runs in the first four innings Tuesday. They crushed the Mets 12-5 for their second win at Citi Field in three games. They have two contests remaining in this important five-game series.

Here are five takeaways from Tuesday:

1. The Mets’ decimated rotation forced them to start veteran Jerad Eickhoff, whom they’ve twice designated for assignment. The Braves took advantage, scoring two runs in each of the first three innings – four of which came with two outs – before third baseman Austin Riley’s grand slam put the Braves up 10-1 in the fourth.

“It was good to come out and score runs,” manager Brian Snitker said. “The three previous games, we’d given up three runs and we were 1-2 in the games. So it was nice to come out and score some runs. … It was good to see good offensive production out of the guys.”

And so the Braves did exactly what they needed to against Eickhoff, taking advantage of the Mets’ injury woes and tagging the spot starter for 10 runs. An eye-popping stat noted by The Athletic’s Jayson Stark: In his past two starts, Eickhoff has allowed 17 runs while recording 21 outs.

2. Riley smashed the ball 432 feet to left for his second career grand slam. He added another homer later to complete a six-RBI performance. Riley has 19 homers, a career high.

“Really good player,” starter Charlie Morton said of Riley. “I pull for him every day. He’s easy to root for. He’s great in the clubhouse. Just an all-around really good dude. He’s one of the guys you get excited to see at the ballpark every day.”

The country boy sure seems to enjoy the biggest city. Riley has six homers in 18 games at Citi Field, and some of those blasts, such as Tuesday’s, were mammoth shots.

“I honestly couldn’t put one specific thing on it,” Riley said of his success in Queens. “Maybe it’s the luck of the draw where I’m starting to feel my swing, feel good just as we’re coming in here. I’m really not sure (laughs).”

3. Shortstop Dansby Swanson laced a two-RBI double in the first inning to open the scoring. Swanson entered the night hitting .297/.350/.581 with 13 extra-base hits over his past 18 games.

Second baseman Ozzie Albies added a monstrous two-run homer to right field in the second inning. It was Albies’ 17th homer and 52nd extra-base hit, which leads the National League. Albies also showed off his athleticism with an outstanding leaping catch to snag a liner.

“What a year he’s putting together,” Snitker said. “Leading the league in extra-base hits. That little guy is something, I’m telling you.”

Outfielder Abraham Almonte hit his fourth homer in the third, a two-run shot. Almonte has three home runs over 18 games this month after hitting only one over his first 29 games.

4. Morton, staked to an early cushion, allowed three runs on five hits across five innings to earn his fifth consecutive win. Morton has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of his last 15 starts.

5. Outfielder Joc Pederson was scratched with an upset stomach before the game. Utilityman Ehire Adrianza started in right field and led off in his place. He reached base safely three times with a hit-by-pitch, walk and double. He scored twice.

“I told (Adrianza) 15 minutes, a half hour before the game started (that he’d start),” Snitker said. “This guy is such a professional. Every day, he’s one of these consistent guys. Does his work, stays ready. He’ll jump in there, you can plug him in anywhere. He’s just really a pleasure to have.”

Stat to know

9 (The Braves have hit nine grand slams this season, tied with the Dodgers for most in MLB.)

Quotable

“The power is unbelievable. … There’s still a lot of upside in this guy.” – Snitker on Riley

Up next

Braves lefty Max Fried (7-6, 4.46) starts Wednesday against Mets rookie Tylor Megill (1-0, 2.10), whose seventh career start will be his third against the Braves.