ATLANTA -AP- Rookie Steven Matz pitched five strong innings, Yoenis Cespedes had a home run and three RBI and the New York Mets took another step toward a division title with a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.With Washington losing to Miami 2-1, the Mets lead the NL East by a season-high 8 1/2 games. It was the Mets' fifth straight victory.Matz allowed one run and six hits as he improved to 3-0 in four career starts and lowered his ERA to 1.88 against an anemic Braves offense that is last in the majors in runs. 
Rookie Matt Wisler (5-7) took the loss for the Braves after allowing two runs in five innings. Wisler has lost six straight decisions for the Braves, who have dropped 22 of their last 25 games. Atlanta has lost 10 straight at Turner Field, tying the franchise single-season home losing streak.Cespedes hit a two-run homer in the ninth and had a line-drive double in the third that scored Curtis Granderson. Cespedes has seven home runs in his last 10 games and 100 RBI for the season. He has 39 RBI in 38 games with the Mets, who acquired him on July 31 from the Tigers.The Mets scored on a balk by Wisler in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead, then added an insurance run on a passed ball in the eighth that scored Eric Young Jr.Granderson scored three times for the Mets.Braves rookie infielder Daniel Castro hit his first career home run in the fifth inning, driving a Matz fastball into the left field seats with no one on. The blow cut the Braves' deficit to 2-1.The win was the 80th on the season for the Mets, marking the first time New York has reached that milestone since 2008.
Rookie Matt Wisler (5-7) took the loss for the Braves after allowing two runs in five innings. Wisler has lost six straight decisions for the Braves, who have dropped 22 of their last 25 games. Atlanta has lost 10 straight at Turner Field, tying the franchise single-season home losing streak.Cespedes hit a two-run homer in the ninth and had a line-drive double in the third that scored Curtis Granderson. Cespedes has seven home runs in his last 10 games and 100 RBI for the season. He has 39 RBI in 38 games with the Mets, who acquired him on July 31 from the Tigers.The Mets scored on a balk by Wisler in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead, then added an insurance run on a passed ball in the eighth that scored Eric Young Jr.Granderson scored three times for the Mets.Braves rookie infielder Daniel Castro hit his first career home run in the fifth inning, driving a Matz fastball into the left field seats with no one on. The blow cut the Braves' deficit to 2-1.The win was the 80th on the season for the Mets, marking the first time New York has reached that milestone since 2008.
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