Winning games like this feels good, especially when they're against the Mets.
The Braves and Mets battled back and forth through the whole game, but Atlanta snatched victory away late to extend their winning streak to six games.
The seesaw battle began in the second when New York struck first on Josh Thole's RBI double off Tommy Hanson, but Atlanta answered right back against R.A. Dickey. With the bases loaded and one out, Eric Hinske drove a two-run double to left and Michael Bourn added a run-scoring single for the third run of the inning. A speedster Hinske is not, as he was thrown out at home on Bourn's hit.
Hanson took a 3-1 lead to the fourth when Ike Davis hit the first pitch he saw for a home run. Andres Torres singled home a run with two on and one out and suddenly the game was tied.
In the fifth, Martin Prado was at first with one out and Jason Heyward batting. Heyward hit a line drive to left that Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin trapped, but was originally called a catch with Prado being doubled off. The call was overturned, and that resulted in Mets manager Terry Collins arguing and ultimately getting tossed from the game. That hit led to Freddie Freeman's two-run double to put the Braves back in the lead.
But the Mets would not stay away. Thole and Torres reached on consecutive one-out singles in the sixth before pinch-hitter Justin Turner singled in a run. Chad Durbin relieved Hanson, but he gave up two more singles. New York scored three runs on five straight hits in the inning and now had a one-run lead. Anthony Varvaro entered in the eighth and gave up a run-scoring single to Ruben Tejada, putting the Braves down 7-5.
Atlanta, though, still had some rally left in them. Brian McCann drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and Dan Uggla singled, but both Tyler Pastornicky and Juan Francisco struck out, leaving the Braves' hopes of a comeback on Michael Bourn and he delivered. Bourn, Prado and Heyward all singled in runs against Bobby Parnell, and gave a one-run lead to Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. Kimbrel showed no mercy to the Mets, striking out the side to preserve the win.
Luis Avilan made his MLB debut in the sixth, striking out Ike Davis. Varvaro earned the win, the first of his major-league career.