The Mets escaped Atlanta with a 10-8 series finale over the win thanks to an early offensive outburst. >> Box score
Five takeaways from Thursday's game
1) Pete Alonso and Amed Rosario led an early offensive outburst for the Mets, as New York scored three runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, Rosario doubled and Joe Panik singled, which helped the Mets cash in three runs on Alonso's 39th home run. In the next inning, Rosario tripled after Ronald Acuna missed a liner with a dive. That scored Marcus Stroman and then Wilson Ramos plated two more runs with a single to right field later in the second.
In total, both Alonso and Rosario had five hits and Alonso tallied six RBI.
2) Stroman labored through a start for the third time with the Mets, but got the job done. Stroman allowed four hits in 5.1 innings of work with five strikeouts. But his four walks got him in some trouble, including the first inning when that helped the Braves load the bases. In that frame, Stroman got out of a jam with a K to end the threat.
At the dish, Stroman helped his own efforts, too. He had a hit and scored two runs.
3) Alonso and Rosario were just the tip of the iceberg. The Mets tallied 23 total hits against the Braves. Michael Conforto (2), Ramos (4) and Juan Lagares (3) and multi-hit games. Panik, JD Davis, Todd Frazier and Stroman all had one. For those counting, that's every player in the starting lineup.
4) Defensively the Mets helped Stroman get out of a few innings. In the third inning a 6-4-3 double play effort worked as Rosario tracked down a Brian McCann grounder and turned the two outs with Panik at second to get out of the frame.
The Mets doubled-down to end the fifth inning as well as Alonso fielded a ball and Stroman covered for him at first as Rosario made the turn back to the pitcher covering the bag. Stroman also had another gold glove type play from the mound as Ender Inciarte grounded into an awkward spot between the mound and first base, which required a jolt from Stroman to grab the high-bouncing ball and use his momentum to step on the bag himself for the first out in the fourth inning.
5) The Mets bullpen somewhat rebounded after a tough night on Wednesday. Luis Avilan allowed a hit but finished out the sixth inning for Stroman, and then Brad Brach had a clean seventh inning with two punch outs.
However, Drew Gagnon was a problem. He struggled, allowing a homer in the eighth, and then three more in the final inning, including a two-run blast. But Edwin Diaz finally recorded the final out and save with a strikeout.
Highlights
Video: Pete Alonso smacks 39th HR, gives Mets 3-0 lead
Video: Rosario's RBI triple extends lead to 4-0 over Braves
Video: Todd Frazier extends Mets lead to 7-0 over Braves
Video: Pete Alonso stays hot, extends Mets lead to 9-2
What's next
The Mets head to Kansas City next for a three-game series with the Royals. Noah Syndergaard (8-5, 3.89 ERA) takes the ball against Royals lefty Mike Montgomery (2-5, 5.19 ERA) on Friday night at 8:15 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium.