NEW YORK — Jason Heyward made a diving catch with runners on first and second and two outs in the ninth inning after pinch-hitter Reed Johnson hit a go-ahead single with two outs in a two-run top half, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1, comeback victory over the New York Mets on Monday night.
Playing for the first time after missing six games with a strained right hamstring, Heyward made a long run to his right and slid along the wet grass to hold his glove up after grabbing pinch-hitter Justin Turner's fly ball.
The Braves took advantage of catcher John Buck's passed ball to score twice in the ninth against closer Bobby Parnell.
The Braves did not get their first hit off Dillon Gee until Freddie Freeman led off the seventh with a single. But the NL East leaders ended their two-game skid against Parnell (5-5).
With shortstop Omar Quintanilla playing behind second base in a shift, Brian McCann singled through the opening at short to open the ninth. Evan Gattis followed with a bloop single to right-center. David Wright then fielded Dan Uggla's grounder and stepped on third before leaping over a sliding pinch-runner Jose Constanza. Buck's passed ball on a high fastball put runners in scoring position before Chris Johnson's grounder tied it.
Batting for reliever Jordan Walden, Reed Johnson then lined a single to center for the lead.
Craig Kimbrel hit Buck with a pitch with one out in the rainy ninth, drawing the Mets fans ire as he tried to get comfortable in the steady downpour by walking off the mound after nearly every pitch. Pinch-runner Andrew Brown advanced to second on a wild pitch and Quintanilla drew a 10-pitch walk.
Turner, in his first game off the disabled list, hit liner to the spacious gap in left-center at Citi Field, but Heyward, who was playing in center field because B.J. Upton is on the disabled list, made a flat out dive to preserve the Braves' first win in three games. Kimbrel earned his 28th save.
