Bo Bichette's grand slam, homer and 6 RBIs lead Mets past Braves 7-5

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette hit a grand slam and a solo homer and matched a career high with six RBIs, leading the New York Mets to a 7-5 win over the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Bichette last drove in six runs in a game on Aug. 4, 2025, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bichette hit both his homers, a 383-foot solo shot in the first and a 341-foot slam to right in the second, off Braves starter Spencer Strider (4-2), who left with right elbow and shoulder soreness after facing one batter in the fourth inning. Manager Walt Weiss said after the game Strider will undergo imaging.

Bichette's seventh homer of the season came before Juan Soto's solo shot in the first. After his grand slam with two out in the second, Bichette lofted a run-scoring sac fly in the fourth.

Cionel Perez (3-3), the first of four Mets relievers to follow Nolan McLean, was credited with the win after allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings. McLean allowed two runs and struck out six in four innings, but walked four and threw 93 pitches, including 42 in the second.

Devin Williams allowed Eli White’s infield RBI single before getting the final four outs for his 10th save — and his first of longer than three outs since May 28, 2023.

Dominic Smith, Mike Yastrzemski and Ozzie Albies had RBI singles, and Matt Olson homered for the Braves, who dropped their third straight. Atlanta leads the NL East and boasts the best record in baseball at 45-24.

Strider, whose velocity dipped into the 87-88 mph range while issuing a leadoff walk to MJ Melendez in the fourth, allowed a season-high seven runs and struck out three.

The start of the game was delayed 76 minutes due to rain.

Braves LHP Martín Pérez (4-3, 3.02 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 5.02).

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New York Mets' Juan Soto celebrates after his solo home run during first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) CORRECTION: Corrects to Atlanta Braves not St. Louis Cardinals.

New York Mets' Marcus Semien, left, reach second base safe as Atlanta Braves' a-Seong Kim keeps an eye on him during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

New York Mets' Bo Bichette (19) celebrates a solo home run with a teammate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) CORRECTION: Atlanta Braves is correct instead of St. Louis Cardinals

New York Mets' Bo Bichette (19) celebrates a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider will undergo imaging after he left Friday night against the New York Mets in the fourth inning because of right shoulder and elbow soreness.

“It’s never good when a guy walks off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after a late comeback bid by Atlanta fell short in a 7-5 loss. “We’ll get the images taken and we’ll see what they say. But it doesn’t look great as we stand here right now.”

Strider left one batter into the fourth and allowed six hits and a season-worst seven earned runs in three innings while taking the defeat. He struck out three. He allowed three homers, including a grand slam to Bo Bichette in the second inning.

Strider’s velocity was considerably lower as he issued a six-pitch walk to MJ Melendez. The three fastballs Strider threw during the at-bat were all at either 88 or 89 mph, down from the 92 to 96 mph pitches he threw in the first two innings.

“The alarm bells went off when we started seeing the upper 80s with his fastball,” Weiss said.

Weiss and a trainer visited Strider, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2019 and had the UCL in his right elbow repaired with an internal brace in April 2024.

Weiss said Strider let them know of the elbow and shoulder discomfort and that he wasn’t aware of the reduced velocity. Strider walked off the mound after a short consultation.

Strider was making his eighth start of the season for the MLB-leading Braves after missing the first 34 games recovering from a strained left oblique. He is 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA this season and 11-16 with a 4.66 ERA since returning from the elbow surgery last year.

Strider was 32-10 with a 3.47 ERA in his first 67 big league appearances prior to the internal brace procedure. He became baseball’s most recent 20-game winner in 2023, when he went 20-5 while reaching 200 strikeouts in 130 innings — the fastest any pitcher has ever gotten to 200 whiffs in season.

“He’s been through a lot in the last few years, trying to work his way back,” Weiss said.

JR Ritchie replaced Strider on Friday and threw the final five innings.

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Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider (99) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, June 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) CORRECTION: Atlanta Braves is correct instead of St. Louis Cardinals