ATLANTA — Francisco Lindor belted a two-run home run in the ninth inning as the New York Mets clinched a National League wild-card playoff berth with a wild 8-7 victory against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader.
It was Game 161 of 162 for both teams, being played as a high-stakes doubleheader on the day after the scheduled end of the regular season.
The games are a makeup for the two wiped out last week by Hurricane Helene. The Braves appeared to be cruising to victory, leading 3-0 before a seesaw eighth inning began.
The Mets posted six runs in the top of the inning, punctuated by Brandon Nimmo's two-run home run. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias gave up the homer and was pulled after 12 pitches, keeping alive the chance that he could appear in Game 2 for Atlanta.