ATLANTA _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 two 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 Friday.
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.
New York tied it in the next inning. Gavin Cecchini, one of the Mets' top infield prospects, doubled to start the inning. Rafael 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 afterward, striking out the next five Mets after Smith's double. 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.
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 curveball and changeup were working especially well as put-away pitches.
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 End 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).
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.
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.
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.
