NEW YORK -- Down five runs at one point, the Mets clubbed four homers Sunday en route to their biggest comeback of the season in a 10-8 win over the Braves at Citi Field.Juan Lagares completed the comeback with a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth, giving the Mets a two-run lead -- their first of the game. A patchwork bullpen took it from there, leaning on Jeurys Familia's four-out save to hold Atlanta scoreless over the final five innings.
Most of the early afternoon belonged to the Braves, who assaulted Mets spot starter Dillon Gee with an eight-run barrage over 3 2/3 innings. But Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz gave most of that back, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and departing with one out in the fifth.
 
Mets power up to cap big rally vs. Braves
 
The Mets' 25th-ranked offense then completed the rally against Luis Avilan and Atlanta's 27th-ranked bullpen.MOMENTS THAT MATTERED All the way back: Trailing 5-1 and 8-3, the Mets capped their comeback when Lagares launched his shot off Avilan in the sixth. That gave the Mets a 10-8 lead they would not relinquish. Darrell Ceciliani, Dilson Herrera and Travis d'Arnaud also homered earlier in the afternoon to plant the seeds of the comeback.Foltynewicz wastes another generous lead: This marked the second time in his past three starts that Foltynewicz did not get a decision after gaining a lead of at least five runs.The rookie was fortunate to limit the damage to two runs when he allowed three singles and issued a walk while facing just five batters in the third inning. But as he struggled to command each of his four pitches, he provided the Mets life by surrendering solo homers to Ceciliani and Herrera.Eight-spot start: Jace Peterson's three-run homer in the second accounted for less than half of the damage against Gee, who gave up a career-high eight runs on 11 hits and a walk. Making a spot start in what general manager Sandy Alderson has called a "five-man heavy" rotation, as opposed to a true six-man set, Gee was unable to make it out of the fourth.Extended bullpen woes: Though Foltynewicz had only thrown 75 pitches, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez felt more comfortable going to his leaky bullpen after Lucas Duda singled with one out in the fifth. Brandon Cunniff promptly surrendered a two-run homer to d'Arnaud before pitching around two walks in the frame. Avilan then opened the sixth by allowing consecutive singles ahead of Lagares' homer. Atlanta's relievers have produced a 5.89 ERA over the past 20 games.SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Braves have now lost each of the past three games in which they have scored at least eight runs. They went 135-2 when scoring at least eight runs from 2009-14.Mark BowmanAnthony DiComo/ MLB.com
 

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