Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Eight proves enough as Mets avoid total meltdown against Braves

ATLANTA -- No need to panic!

Well, maybe a little is warranted.

The New York Mets built an eight-run lead, then held on for an 8-6 win against the Atlanta Braves on Friday at Turner Field.

The Mets nearly imploded as Steven Matz's velocity dipped in the fifth inning and the Braves chased him while producing six runs in the frame.

Hansel Robles, who rescued the Mets on Tuesday by tossing a career-high 3 2/3 innings once Bartolo Colon departed after four pitches with a bruised right thumb, again helped the Mets avert disaster. Robles replaced Matz and stranded a pair of inherited runners to preserve a two-run lead. Robles ultimately logged 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

"He's been unbelievable," manager Terry Collins said. "... He's bailed us out twice this week."

The Mets had built an 8-0 lead on James Loney's three-run homer in the top of the fifth. However, the Mets had to hold on for dear life in the bottom half to avoid matching the franchise record for largest blown lead. The Mets lost to the Cubs 12-9 at Wrigley Field on April 19, 1980, after leading 9-1.

Matz was charged with six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, which continues a rough stretch for the rookie southpaw. He has a 6.61 ERA in his past three starts.

The Mets disclosed after Matz’s last start that he had been dealing with elbow tightness.

Matz was shown on the SNY telecast rubbing his left elbow in the dugout before taking the mound for the disastrous fifth inning Friday. In the opening four innings, 25 of his 35 fastballs registered 94 mph or better. In the fifth inning, only one of 17 reached that velocity. It was the first start of his career in which he did not record a strikeout.

"He didn't say anything when he came out," Collins said about Matz's elbow. "He was just very disappointed he lost command. He couldn't make any pitches. I'm sure you guys saw on TV -- ball after ball in the middle of the plate."

The Mets had another injury scare to deal with besides Matz’s elbow. Yoenis Cespedes twisted his left ankle while stepping on first base as he was picked off in the seventh inning. Cespedes limped off the field with an escort from trainer Ray Ramirez, but completed the game. Cespedes returned to the lineup Friday after missing a game with a sprained left wrist, which required a cortisone injection Wednesday. He had lost a fly ball off the bat of Nick Markakis in Atlanta’s six-run fifth inning -- playing a fly out into a double.

The Mets still held on for their first win in five games against the last-place Braves in the past week. The eight runs produced by the Mets on Friday exceeded their total in the previous four games against Atlanta (seven).

With Addison Reed and Jerry Blevins unavailable because of their recent workloads, Antonio Bastardo opened the eighth. When Bastardo surrendered a two-out double to Nick Markakis that brought the tying run to the plate, Collins summoned Jeurys Familia for a four-out save.

Familia succeeded despite allowing the first two batters of the ninth to reach -- thanks in part to a baserunning blunder by the Braves on a sacrifice-bunt attempt, which resulted in a double play. He established a new franchise record with his 25th save in 25 attempts to begin the season. Armando Benitez was 24-for-24 to open 2001.

What’s next: Jacob deGrom (3-4, 2.96 ERA) opposes right-hander Julio Teheran (3-7, 2.66) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET. Teheran tossed a one-hit shutout against the Mets last weekend at Citi Field. DeGrom is winless in his past nine starts. The Mets have scored a total of two runs in the four games started by deGrom in June.

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