Harris and Schwellenbach shine as Braves down Mets 5-1 in opener of pivotal series

ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II had three more hits, including a solo home run and an RBI double, and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach shut down the New York Mets again as the Atlanta Braves cruised to a 5-1 win Tuesday night in the opener of a pivotal three-game series.

“Felt good to come out swinging and get some runs early,” Harris said. “That’s what we did tonight. Pitching was phenomenal from Schwellenbach. We just have to come out and do the same thing the next two days.”

Marcell Ozuna added his 39th home run for Atlanta, which trails the Mets by one game in the National League playoff race with five remaining. New York began the night a half-game ahead of Arizona for the second of three wild cards, while the Braves were 1 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks.

Arizona hosted San Francisco in a later start.

Schwellenbach (8-7) threw seven strong innings, giving up one run and three hits with four strikeouts. He allowed one run and five hits while striking out 15 batters over 14 innings in two wins against the Mets this season.

“The juices were definitely flowing,” Schwellenbach said. “This is basically the playoffs for us. We need wins.”

Harris finished a triple shy of the cycle and has 13 hits in his last five games. He also made a diving catch in center field to rob Mets rookie Luisangel Acuña of a base hit.

“Good timing,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It is the right time of year to get hot.”

Acuña was playing his first major league game in front of older brother Ronald Acuña Jr., who watched from the Atlanta dugout. The star Braves outfielder and reigning NL MVP is out for the season with a knee injury. The siblings exchanged jerseys before the game.

Luis Severino (11-7) took the loss, giving up four runs in four innings. He permitted seven hits and a walk while striking out five.

New York was coming off a 6-1 homestand.

Mark Vientos hit his 26th home run for the Mets, and Jose Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

“We still have a chance to win a series here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We didn’t play well. We didn’t make a play a couple of times. We missed a cutoff man one time. We've got to turn the page. I know it is going to be a story because it is here in Atlanta. We've got to go out and do it.”

The Braves pushed across three runs in the third, when Harris doubled home Orlando Arcia and then scored on a single from Ozzie Albies. With two outs, Ramón Laureano knocked in Albies with a soft single.

Harris extended the lead to 4-0 with a 422-foot homer to left field in the fourth, and Ozuna’s shot made it 5-0 in the fifth.

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Helene are forecast for the Atlanta area on Wednesday and Thursday, which might make it difficult to get the games in and could potentially force a makeup situation next Monday, one day after the regular season is scheduled to be completed. The Mets are at Milwaukee starting Friday, and the Braves will host the Royals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Star shortstop Francisco Lindor missed his eighth straight game with a sore back. He worked out beforehand and was available to pinch hit. Lindor was on deck when the game ended, and Mendoza said the switch-hitter “could be in play for (Wednesday).” Lindor had a bone scan Monday that revealed no structural damage to his back.

Braves: 3B Austin Riley was ruled out for the year after a CT scan Monday showed his broken right hand had not healed sufficiently. Riley was hit by a pitch on Aug. 18 and initially ruled out for six to eight weeks, leaving some hope he could return for the postseason if the Braves make it. ... Snitker said RHP Reynaldo López threw a side session and could be activated from the injured list this week. He is eligible to return Thursday.

UP NEXT

Weather permitting, Mets LHP David Peterson (9-3, 3.08 ERA) will face LHP Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38) in the middle game of the series Wednesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias, center, tags Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, left, out at second base and then attempts to throw out Ozzie Albies (1) at first base in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II swings at a pitch called as a strike in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, center, catches the ball as Atlanta Braves' Ramón Laureano, left, swings at a pitch in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson rounds second base after Ramón Laureano (18) hit a line drive to right field in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna celebrates on the way to first base after hitting a home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, high fives first base coach Tom Goodwin, left, after hitting a single in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) watches a pitch in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias, left, celebrates the win with catcher Travis d'Arnaud, right, following the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

HOUSTON (AP) — Jason Heyward hit a go-ahead, two-run homer and made a dazzling defensive play as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Tuesday night to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West championship.

Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker each added a solo home run for the Astros, who are headed to the postseason for the eighth year in a row.

The Astros trailed by one with no outs in the fifth inning when Victor Caratini singled before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Peña.

Heyward, who wowed on defense in the top of the inning, launched his home run to the second deck in right field off Logan Gilbert (8-12) to put Houston on top 4-3.

Heyward, who signed with the Astros last month after his release by the Dodgers, is filling in for Yordan Alvarez, who is out with a knee sprain.

The Mariners had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth before Ryan Pressly retired Mitch Garver on a flyball. Josh Hader took over and struck out J.P. Crawford to preserve the lead.

Hader returned for the ninth and retired pinch-hitter Luis Urías before striking out Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez to earn his 34th save.

Framber Valdez (15-7) permitted eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the win.

Jorge Polanco homered among his season-high four hits and had two RBIs for the Mariners, who dropped 2 1/2 games in a crowded race for the final American League wild card that also includes Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota.

Justin Turner and Polanco singled to open the sixth, but Mitch Garver grounded out before Valdez struck out Crawford to end his outing.

Bryan Abreu came in and pinch-hitter Luke Raley grounded out as Houston escaped the jam.

Gilbert allowed five hits, four runs and tied a season high by giving up three homers in six innings.

There were two outs in the first when Bregman sent a fastball from Gilbert over the fence in center field to make it 1-0.

Polanco tied it when homered to left on Valdez’s second pitch of the second inning.

Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh singled to open the third before the Mariners took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Randy Arozarena. There was one out when Polanco singled to score Rodríguez and make it 3-1.

Tucker’s shot to start the Houston fourth sailed over the short wall in right field to cut the lead to 3-2.

Heyward robbed Raleigh of extra bases with a leaping catch in left field for the second out of the fifth. Heyward crashed into the metal scoreboard on the wall after making the play, knocking out a panel with his left hand.

He was shaken up by the collision and fell to the ground writhing in pain. Heyward was checked by an athletic trainer but remained in the game before hitting his homer in the bottom half.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: Alvarez was feeling better after spraining his right knee Sunday on a slide, but wasn't sure when he’ll return. “I really can’t do much right now,” he said. “Inflammation obviously is still there and I can’t even turn my knee right now.”

UP NEXT

The Mariners hadn’t announced their starter for Wednesday’s series finale. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.19 ERA) will pitch for Houston.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco is greet by third base coach Manny Acta, left, after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz (21) and Alex Bregman (2) celebrate a solo home run by Bregman during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jason Heyward (22) collects high-fives in the dugout after his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman (2) connects for a home run in front of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker flips his bat as he watches his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jason Heyward gestures to the dugout as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)