NEW YORK — Three of Cameron Maybin’s first five hits (in 34 at-bats) were home runs before Wednesday night, including a seventh-inning homer Tuesday that allowed the Braves to avert what would’ve been their first shutout in a 7-1 loss to the Mets.

The center fielder was already one-third of the way to his career-high total of nine homers in 2011, when he had a career-high 516 at-bats in 137 games with the Padres. The Braves got Maybin from San Diego as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade one day before the season opener.

Maybin had eight homers in 291 at-bats for the Marlins in 2010, his last season with the team and also the last year that Fredi Gonzalez managed the team (he was fired in June). So, Gonzalez knows the Asheville, N.C., native has more power than his career numbers – 35 homers in more than 2,100 plate appearances — might indicate.

“He’s got some juice,” Gonzalez said. “You make a mistake with him and he can run you out of the ballpark.”

Maybin started three consecutive games and four out of five before Wednesday, when recently slumping Eric Young Jr. was in the lineup against his former team.