ATLANTA _ It takes more than one splendid day to regain control of a season. But by sweeping a doubleheader against the Braves on Saturday, the Mets took what may be a critical first step.
In his first game back in almost six weeks, slugger Yoenis Cespedes blasted a ninth-inning grand slam to turn a tense opener into a 6-1 romp. In the nightcap, Jay Bruce hit his 16th homer of the season and T.J. Rivera came off the bench for a two-run shot, powering an 8-1 victory.
In both cases, the Mets' much-maligned starting pitching snapped to attention. Righty Robert Gsellman and lefty Steven Matz delivered the kind of dominant performances that had been expected to be the norm.
The Mets bounced back from a walk-off loss in Friday's series opener, improving to 27-33. At six games under .500, plenty of work remains, though the road might not be as daunting with Cespedes back in the fold and signs of a turnaround from a beleaguered pitching staff.
"I think there's still time and we've still got a chance," Cespedes said.
Gsellman began the day reinforcing his claim to a spot in the rotation, tossing 62/3 shutout innings. Until Cespedes intervened, it had been a pitching duel, with Braves lefty Sean Newcomb allowing just one unearned run in 61/3 innings in his impressive big-league debut.
But Gsellman won the battle, extending what has been an impressive surge since his temporary demotion to the bullpen. In Gsellman's first seven starts of the season, he posted a 7.27 ERA. But after a pair of relief appearances, he has a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts.
With Matz and Lugo returning from injury, Gsellman had been ticketed to return to the bullpen. But now he will instead remain in the rotation with the Mets intending to adopt a six-man alignment.
"It's just being consistent with my sinker down in the zone, getting ahead on batters and just getting them out," said Gsellman, who generated nine ground-ball outs.
Yet, Matz proved just as good as his teammate in the nightcap, coming off the disabled list to allow one run in seven innings. He allowed five hits and one walk while striking out two.
Despite his long layoff because of a balky elbow, Matz showed impeccable command. And just like Gsellman earlier, he settled into a groove, pitching seven innings.
That length was a key for the Mets, whose undoing has been prompted by lackluster starts that have forced an overexposed bullpen to carry a heavy workload.
The Mets have a chance to win the four-game set Sunday, when Seth Lugo makes his season debut.
