ATLANTA -- Max Scherzer pitched seven strong innings, Luis Guillorme homered and drove in two runs, and the New York Mets beat Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Monday night in the opening game of their NL East showdown.
Pete Alonso also had two RBIs and Scherzer (6-1) gave up only three hits, including Austin Riley's 24th homer in the seventh. That cut the Mets' lead to 2-1, but Guillorme answered with his homer off Darren O'Day in the eighth.
All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, pitching for the third straight day, struck out the side in the ninth for his 19th save.