The Atlanta Braves evened their three-game series with the New York Mets on Saturday night with a 14-3 rout at Truist Park, capping Independence Day with their most lopsided win of the season.
The Braves broke the game open in the third inning, scoring seven runs on seven hits and a walk. Marcell Ozuna capped the rally with a grand slam to left field, his 23rd home run of the season and the Braves’ second grand slam in four days.
“That inning kind of took the air out of them,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “When you score seven in one frame, the game is over.”
Ozuna finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Matt Olson added a two-run homer in the fifth, his 25th of the year, and Michael Harris II drove in two more with a double in the seventh.
Starting pitcher Spencer Strider (7-5) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out eight. The bullpen closed it out with three scoreless innings.
The win improves Atlanta to 49-42 on the season and pulls the Braves within a half-game of Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. The Mets fall to 40-54.
“Every win is big right now,” Strider said. “We’re trying to get back to the top of the division and make a run. Tonight was a good step.”
Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. at Truist Park. RHP Chris Sale (9-3, 2.20 ERA) gets the start for Atlanta against RHP Tylor Megill (5-6, 4.78) for New York.