Two home games, two substitutions, two game-winners for Lane Adams.
Adams, the Braves’ newfound pinch-hitting, late-sub outfielder extraordinaire, delivered the second Braves win in as many home games with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly that gave the Braves a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t surrender against the Mets at SunTrust Park on Friday.
It comes less than a week after Adams’ 11th inning walk-off homer against Miami on Sunday.
“You just have to be ready because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Adams said. “... I was watching video and (Mets starter Rafael) Montero had good stuff tonight. Kept guys off balance. ... I was just trying to get the run in from third. I was fortunately enough to get it out there and score Ender (Inciarte).”
The Braves went up 1-0 in one of the more unconventional ways possible. Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki was charged with interference on a David Freitas grounder that scored Dansby Swanson. Atlanta could opt to take the out and run, or load the bases with one down.
Braves manager Brian Snitker elected to take the run. Starter Sean Newcomb was on deck, so loading the bases with one-out was more appealing on paper than in reality. Newcomb grounded out to end the inning, but the Braves took a lead.
“I just didn’t want to pass a run up,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “Regardless of the situation. I said ‘I get my choice right?’ And he (the umpire) said yeah, so I said ok, I want the run.”
New York tied it in the next frame. Gavin Cecchini, one of the Mets’ top infield prospects, doubled to start the inning. Montero advanced him and the run scored on Jose Reyes’ grounder.
Newcomb’s toughest inning was the fourth. He gave up two doubles to Asdrubal Cabrera and Dominic Smith, putting the Braves behind 2-1. He struck out Juan Lagares and Travis Taijeron to leave Smith stranded.
Newcomb settled in afterwards, striking out the next five Mets after Smith’s double. “Fastball, changup was good for me,” Newcomb said. “I think I’ve just been throwing it more. I’m getting a better feel for it with all the reps. But I’m a lot more comfortable with it now than I was last year or the beginning of this year, for sure.”
Left fielder Matt Kemp, who was slow to get to both the doubles, was removed in favor of Adams in the fifth. The team announced he left with left hamstring tightness.
“We’ll just wait and see,” Snitker said. “It’s a day-to-day thing.”
After back-to-back singles from Cabrera and Plawecki, Newcomb walked Smith and was replaced by reliever Dan Winkler, who forced Juan Lagares to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The last batter was the first and only walk for Newcomb on the night. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out eight. Cabrera had three of the six hits he surrendered. Newcomb’s putaway pitches, specifically his changeup, did him well.
“Really good,” Snitker said. “Got a lot of strikes. Good job by him. You see what the kid’s capable of. He’s getting better, he’s maturing. ... Other than the two-strike RBI to (Smith), he had good command.”
Winkler, Jose Ramirez, Sam Freeman and Arodys Vizcaino closed the door on the Mets, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Braves pulled even in the fifth. Freitas doubled, with Inciarte bringing him home with a single. It was Inciarte’s 188th hit of the season, tied for the most by a Brave since 2007 (Jeff Francoeur).
“You look at all the hits he’s got,” Snitker said. “He’s been big all year. I mean, the guy just hits anybody.”
Ozzie Albies, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double in the first, walked after Inciarte’s hit. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked to load the bases for Adams.
Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo made a diving grab, but Adams’ sacrifice fly scored Inciarte and the Braves regained the lead at 3-2. Nick Markakis hit a ball off Montero that he beat out for an infield single, chasing the Mets starter from the game. Swanson flew out to leave the bases loaded.
“It’s very surreal,” Adams said about his recent run of success. “Grateful for the opportunity. ... Thankful to the Braves for believing in me. It’s just been a lot of fun.”
The Mets got two on with two out against Freeman, but he induced a Smith fly ball to Adams. After hitting three doubles in the first four innings, the Mets didn’t have an extra base hit for the rest of the night.
Nick Markakis collected two hits, reaching 150 for the 10th time in his career. Only three other players have double-digit 150-hit seasons since Markakis entered the league in 2006: Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano have 11, and Miguel Cabrera has 10.
Atlanta is 6-7 against the Mets this season, with five of its remaining 17 games against New York. The Braves have won just six of their last 22 at home against the Mets.
The Braves improved to 34-39 at SunTrust Park with eight games left. They went 31-50 at Turner Field last season and are trying to avoid consecutive losing home campaigns for the first time since 1988-1990.
