NEW YORK — Cameron Maybin bobbled a ball in centre field for an error that allowed the Mets to score the go-ahead run in the seventh, and he got thrown out at home trying to tag up an inning later.
All good. He still had two at-bats to turn around his day.
Oh, he did.
Maybin had a two-run single in the 11th inning after driving in a run in the ninth Saturday, and the Atlanta Braves’ beleaguered bullpen shut down the Mets over the final four-plus innings in a come-from-behind, 5-3 victory over New York.
"It’s just fun to win, man," Maybin said.
Maybin came up with runners on second and third and one out in the 11th and sent a liner off Carlos Torres (2-3) into left-centre for the two-run lead. He entered the day batting .448 (13 for 29) with runners in scoring position.
Facing a Mets bullpen without closer Jeurys Familia, whose son was born while he was finishing off Friday night’s win, the Braves rallied for two in the ninth to end a five-game skid against the NL East leaders.
"Those guys went out and gave everything they had," Carlos Torres said, "for me to give up those runs after they played hard core is terrible."
Andrelton Simmons tied a career high with four hits for the Braves, who won for just the fourth time in 11 games.
With 37,794 enthusiastic fans standing and cheering, Freddie Freeman tied it 3-all with a liner past diving shortstop Wilmer Flores. Maybin singled in a run off Hansel Robles before Freeman stepped to the plate.
Freeman gave Atlanta the early lead with a mammoth homer off Jacob deGrom in the first.
The Braves had already blown five saves in June, but, this time, six relievers retired 14 of the final 16 batters.
Jason Grilli (2-2) pitched one inning for the win.
"We believe in these guys every time they come in," Maybin said of the bullpen. "They continue to go out there and they continue to compete."
Williams Perez, who is Monday’s scheduled starter, gave up two singles to open the 11th before getting pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. to line into a double play to shortstop. Perez then finished for his first career save.
"We had no other options," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he and his staff will have to go over Williams’ day — how many warmup pitches he threw and such before deciding if he will make his start against the Red Sox.
The Mets used several defensive gems and took advantage of an error by centre fielder Maybin in the seventh inning to open a 3-1 lead against Shelby Miller.
New York had runners on base in every inning but the fourth against the Braves’ 24-year-old ace. Miller, though, worked out of every jam until the seventh, when Travis d’Arnaud blooped a single to centre. Pinch-hitter Juan Lagares, who singled to start the rally and advanced to third on Curtis Granderson’s double, scored to make it 1-all.
Granderson scored when Maybin bobbled the ball in centre field for an error. Dana Eveland replaced Miller and Lucas Duda then doubled.
In 6 1/3 innings, Miller allowed a season-high eight hits and three runs, which boosted his ERA from 1.84 to 2.02.
DeGrom pitched seven dominant innings, striking out nine. He allowed five hits and one run.
He also knocked down Maybin’s sharp comebacker in the third and threw home to nail Simmons trying to score, keeping it 1-0.
Flores made a nifty stop, spin and throw to end the seventh with a runner on third. And Darrell Ceciliani, having just moved from centre field to left, threw out Maybin at home trying to tag up on Freeman’s fly in the eighth.
BOBBY’S BACK
Bobby Parnell made his first relief appearance in over a year because of Tommy John surgery. With two outs in the eighth he gave up a single and got a groundout to protect a 3-1 lead.
"I felt good mechanically there, but I’ve still got some work to do," Parnell said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 2B Daniel Murphy (left quad strain) had six at-bats in an extended spring game. He did not run the bases.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz was roughed up in his last start, allowing five runs and 12 hits against the Padres. He’ll be making his ninth career start and first against the Mets.
Mets: Dillon Gee will make a spot start as part of New York’s effort to manage its young starters’ innings this season. Recently demoted to the bullpen, the right-hander’s outing will give an extra day of rest to Matt Harvey, deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Gee is 6-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 16 starts against the Braves.
