Braves vs Mets 2026: Mets Rout Atlanta 14-3—Top Highlights & Playoff Implications

Queens, N.Y. — The New York Mets opened their three-game homestand against the Atlanta Braves with an emphatic 14-3 victory Monday night, riding Francisco Lindor’s two home runs and six RBIs to their most lopsided win of the season at Citi Field. Lindor tripled in the first, launched a two-run shot in the third and capped the carnage with a three-run blast in the eighth, finishing a double shy of the cycle. The switch-hitting shortstop has now tallied 23 homers and 74 RBIs, vaulting him back into early MVP chatter and giving the Mets a badly needed jolt against the NL East leaders. Rookie right-hander Zac Thornton (2-1) scattered six hits over 6⅓ innings, allowing just three earned runs while striking out five. Atlanta southpaw Cristian Thomas didn’t escape the third frame, surrendering 11 runs and five walks as his ERA ballooned to 7.32. Key moments • First inning: After rookie leadoff man Jackson Ewing singled and stole second, Lindor scorched a 108-mph triple off the right-field fence to tie the game at 1-1. • Third inning: Lindor’s 367-foot homer put New York up 3-1 and ignited an eight-run avalanche that chased Thomas. • Seventh inning: Center fielder Isaiah Taylor continued his breakout campaign with a three-run homer, giving him 18 on the year and stretching the lead to 11-3. The offensive outburst overshadowed Ozzie Albies’ three-hit night for Atlanta, which included a two-run shot in the fourth. Still, the Braves’ vaunted lineup managed only nine total bases compared with New York’s 34. Standings impact Despite the defeat, Atlanta (62-44) maintains a 5-game cushion atop the division, but the Mets (45-62) have now won back-to-back contests for the first time since mid-June and trimmed their deficit to 17½ games. Manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the long view: “We’re building habits that will matter in August and September. Tonight shows what this group is capable of when we stay in the zone and pass the baton.” What’s next Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Tuesday night, with left-hander Martín Pérez facing Mets fireballer Nolan McLean, who owns a 2.49 ERA in eight road starts this season. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET, and the forecast calls for clear skies—welcome news after multiple rain delays plagued the clubs’ June meeting. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “Braves vs Mets score,” “Francisco Lindor home runs,” or “Mets rout Braves” will find Monday’s box-score eruption impossible to miss. With Thornton stabilizing the rotation and Lindor heating up, the Mets suddenly look like spoilers in the NL East race—setting up must-watch baseball for the remainder of the week in Flushing.