The Braves insisted that the mood remained optimistic in the dugout after the seventh inning Saturday, even though they trailed 7-5 against the Mets and had come back to win only twice in 35 games this season when behind after seven.
They said they still believed after pinch-hitters Tyler Pastornicky and Juan Francisco struck out consecutively with runners on first and second in the eighth inning.
Then they came through. Again and again and again.
Michael Bourn, Martin Prado and Jason Heyward hit consecutive two-out RBI singles in the eighth, lifting the Braves to a stirring 8-7 comeback win against New York at Turner Field, the team's sixth in a row.
"Picking up those runs with two outs is huge," said Heyward, whose single through the left side of the infield drove in the go-ahead run. "And giving our closer the ball with the lead in the ninth is awesome."
Closer Craig Kimbrel displayed sheer dominance in the ninth, striking out Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda to collect his National League-leading 27th save in 28 chances. Freddie Freeman had three hits and was one of three Braves with two RBIs, along with Bourn and Eric Hinske.
"What a game to win," said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose Braves will go for a three-game sweep Sunday, after sweeping three games at Philadelphia in the final series before the All-Star break. "A lot of positive stuff in today's game. Keep it rolling."
The Braves scored five runs in five innings against Mets All-Star R.A. Dickey, the second time this season they've totaled five runs and eight hits in five or fewer innings against the knuckleballer. Dickey avoided a second loss to the Braves when Tommy Hanson coughed up leads of 3-1 after three innings and 5-3 after five innings.
Hanson gave up three consecutive one-out singles in the sixth inning, and the last two runs charged to him scored after reliever Chad Durbin replaced him in the sixth and surrendered RBI singles to the next two batters. That made it five consecutive singles for the Mets for three runs and a 6-5 lead.
Many in a crowd of 32,565 were stunned by the sudden reversal, and hundreds made their way to the exits when the Mets pushed the lead to 7-5 in the eighth.
But the Braves weren't done. Brian McCann drew a walk against Mets left-hander Tim Byrdak leading off the eighth, and Dan Uggla followed with a sharp single down the left-field line off reliever Pedro Beato.
With runners at first and second, pinch-hitter Pastornicky was sent up to bunt. He fouled two of the first four pitches and the bunt sign was taken off with the count 2-2. But Pastornicky didn't notice that it wasn't taken off, and he tried to bunt again, this time missing the pitch entirely.
Next up, pinch-hitter Francisco. Bobby Parnell was brought in to face him. Strikeout.
"The thing is, you've got to play all nine innings," Bourn said. "We didn't give up. We kept fighting."
Bourn followed Francisco and re-stoked the rally with a two-out single up the middle that scored McCann to cut the lead to 7-6. Then Prado fell behind in the count 1-2 before lining an opposite-field single through the right side to tie the score.
With the crowd re-energized, Heyward took the first two pitches for balls before singling through the left side of the infield.
"We've got some guys getting hot in here," said Heyward, who's one of them. "We're going to battle you the whole nine."
