Braves stay hot and rally past skidding Mets on 97-degree night in NY

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Olson had three RBIs, including a tiebreaking single that capped a five-run sixth inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the reeling New York Mets 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Spencer Strider (3-5) overcame one rugged inning to win his third straight start, and the Braves took advantage of nine walks by six Mets pitchers. Atlanta, which has won nine of 12 overall, improved to 5-0 against its NL East rival this year — all in the past eight days.

After getting an encouraging performance from starter Frankie Montas in his Mets debut, New York blew a 3-0 lead and lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

Sidelined since spring training by a right lat strain, Montas struck out five in five shutout innings on a 97-degree night at Citi Field. But reliever Huascar Brazobán walked the first three batters in the sixth, and Atlanta pounced.

Ozzie Albies delivered a sacrifice fly, and left-hander José Castillo (0-2) entered before pinch-hitter Eli White drove in a run with an infield single on a low line drive that glanced off the glove of diving third baseman Brett Baty.

Michael Harris II was hit by a pitch, and No. 9 batter Nick Allen tied it 3-all with his third consecutive single after beginning the night with a .556 OPS.

One out later, Olson gave the Braves a 5-3 lead with a two-run single off Reed Garrett.

Olson and Austin Riley each added an RBI double in the eighth. Raisel Iglesias got two outs in the ninth for his ninth save in 13 chances.

Strider lost his first five starts this season after returning from right elbow surgery. But he beat the Mets for the second time in six days, striking out eight in five innings of two-hit ball.

The right-hander walked three in a 33-pitch fourth as the Mets scored three times. But after Baty's two-run single, they didn't get another hit until Jeff McNeil's one-out double in the ninth.

After giving up an RBI double to Ronny Mauricio in the ninth, Iglesias retired Francisco Lindor with two on to end it. ... Harris got drilled in the right elbow by a 95 mph sinker and was removed in the bottom of the sixth. He is day to day.

The game-time temperature was the hottest for a Mets home game since it was 98 degrees against Milwaukee at Shea Stadium in August 2001.

Mets RHP Clay Holmes (7-4, 3.04 ERA) pitches Wednesday night against 20-year-old righty Didier Fuentes (0-1, 7.20), who makes his second major league start for Atlanta.

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

Atlanta Braves' Nick Allen hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza takes the ball from New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazobán during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna, left, celebrates with Ronald Acuña after a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MONTREAL (AP) — Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky scored goals 37 seconds apart to start the third period, propelling the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-3 win over the last-place Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Alexandre Carrier scored twice in a 20-second span in the second period for Montreal, which rebounded from a 4-0 home-ice loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Noah Dobson and Oliver Kapanen also scored in the Canadiens' fourth straight win over the Canucks.

Jakub Dobes, making his first start since Jan. 1, stopped 20 shots for Montreal. Dobes defeated Vancouver for the second time in as many outings this season.

Elias Pettersson, Evander Kane and Max Sasson scored for the Canucks.

Vancouver has lost the first four games of its season-long six-game Eastern Conference road trip. Overall, the Canucks have lost seven straight and nine of their last 10.

Nikita Tolopilo made 35 saves in his first appearance in goal for Vancouver since Dec. 8.

The Belarusian goaltender was recalled Sunday under emergency conditions from the Canucks’ AHL affiliate.

Starter Thatcher Demko was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury he suffered in his team’s 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Demko returned to Vancouver to be further evaluated by the Canucks’ medical staff.

Vancouver scored the opening goal of the game for the first time in six games, marking their first lead in a game since Dec. 30.

Carrier’s first goal was his 100th career point. It also was the first career multigoal game for the 29-year-old blueliner.

Canucks: At Ottawa on Tuesday in the fifth game of a six-game trip.

Canadiens: At Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier, second from left, scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) as Canucks' Tom Willander (5) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Max Sasson (63) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) watches the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Texier (85) as Canucks' Marcus Pettersson (29) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo, bottom left, as Canucks' Tom Willander (5) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)