Braves explode in 2nd inning, rout Mets

NEW YORK — One night after Derek Lowe had his doors blown off by an eight-run Mets inning, the Braves returned the favor with an eight-run outburst of their own Wednesday night at Citi Field.

Brian McCann’s three-run homer punctuated an eight-run second inning, and the Braves pounded out plenty more extra-base hits later in a 15-2 rout against the Mets to even the three-game series.

Jair Jurrjens pitched six solid innings for his 10th win, and Adam LaRoche and Matt Diaz each homered for the Braves, who need to win against Mets ace Johan Santana on Thursday to take the three-game series.

“These are must-win games, and we responded awesome,” McCann said. “J.J. pitched great again. ... [Diaz] is incredible. He’s able to carry a team for a couple of weeks, as hot as he gets.”

Diaz drove in four runs with two hits including a two-run homer in the sixth, giving him seven RBIs in two nights against the Mets and three homers in the past four games.

His two-run single drove in the first runs of the eight-run second.

“Last night was tough,” Diaz said. “I was very proud of the way we bounced back and put it right back on them tonight.”

LaRoche had three hits and homered for the third consecutive game, his sixth-inning solo shot giving him five homers in seven games. Since being traded to the Braves on July 31, he has hit .389 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 16 games.

“Everything we expected we would get — we’re getting even more,” manager Bobby Cox said of LaRoche, who has 19 homers this season with three teams.

Omar Infante, Yunel Escobar and former Mets outfielder Ryan Church also three hits apiece for the Braves, who had a season-high 18 hits after being held to eight or fewer for six games.

The 18th hit was a ninth-inning single by outfielder Reid Gorecki, the first major-league hit and RBI for the Queens, N.Y., native, who arrived Monday from Class AAA. He left more than 100 tickets for friends and family members.

“These are for Gorecki,” Cox said as he signed lineup cards to give the rookie. “It’s heartening to see that. We like him. He’s not just a Triple-A guy.”

The Braves teed off against Bobby Parnell (3-5), a converted reliever who gave up nine hits and nine runs in three innings of his third major-league start.

Jurrjens (10-8) won for the first time in his past five starts, allowing eight hits, two runs and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

“It felt good to get back in the ‘W’ column,” said Jurrjens, who is 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA in six starts against the Mets. He knew Wednesday was important. “With Santana going tomorrow, it’s going to be a more challenging to our hitters.”

Parnell (3-5) had not allowed any earned runs in seven relief appearances over two seasons against the Braves, but they rocked him Wednesday.

Five Braves runs in the second might have been avoided if second baseman Luis Castillo hadn’t forgotten to cover the base on a two-out Garret Anderson grounder to short.