Matt Olson delivered a clutch performance for the Atlanta Braves, notching three RBIs, including a game-changing single during a five-run sixth inning, powering the team to a 7–4 comeback win over the struggling New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Despite a turbulent inning, Spencer Strider (3–5) bounced back to earn his third consecutive win, as the Braves capitalized on nine walks issued by six Mets pitchers. Atlanta, riding a nine-win surge in their last 12 games, also swept the season series 5–0 against their NL East rivals—all within the past week.

The Mets got an upbeat debut from Frankie Montas, who wasn’t expected to see the mound this early after recovering from a right lat strain. He fanned five batters over five shutout innings in the sweltering 97°F heat at Citi Field. However, reliever Huascar Brazobán’s rough sixth—walking the first three batters—opened the floodgates for the Braves takeover.

Ozzie Albies got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly, and pinch-hitter Eli White followed with an infield RBI single after a diving play by third baseman Brett Baty. Then, Michael Harris II was plunked for a HBP before Nick Allen, batting ninth, knotted the game at 3–3 with his third straight single—he entered with just a .556 OPS. Moments later, Olson’s two-run single off Reed Garrett propelled Atlanta to the lead.

Matt Olson

The Braves padded their lead in the eighth as Olson and Austin Riley each added RBI doubles. Raisel Iglesias locked it down in the ninth, recording his ninth save in 13 opportunities, despite allowing a late RBI double. Strider’s pitching line included eight strikeouts and just two hits over five innings, even though he yielded three walks in a tough fourth. The Mets wouldn’t record another hit until Jeff McNeil’s ninth-inning double. Despite taking a liner off the right elbow, Harris is day-to-day.

Remarkably, this was Citi Field’s hottest game since 98 degrees in Shea Stadium back in August 2001. Up next: Mets RHP Clay Holmes (7–4) faces off against the Braves’ 20-year-old rookie Didier Fuentes (0–1), making just his second major league start.

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