NEW YORK -- Dillon Gee flopped in a spot start, but the New York Mets bailed him out with four long balls. And, yes, Jeurys Familia was present to record a four-out save as the Amazin’s overcame their largest deficit of the season.
Juan Lagares' three-run homer in the seventh against reliever Luis Avilan capped a rally from a five-run deficit as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 10-8, on Sunday at Citi Field.
The Mets had trailed by scores of 5-1 and 8-3. Their largest previous comeback this season had come on April 16 against the Miami Marlins, when a 3-0 hole became a 7-5 win.
Darrell Ceciliani produced his first major league homer and Dilson Herrera also had a solo shot against Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz in the fourth. After Lucas Duda chased Foltynewicz with a one-out single in the fifth, Travis d'Arnaud greeted Brandon Cunniff with a two-run homer that pulled the Mets within 8-7.
In the sixth, pinch hitter Michael Cuddyer and Curtis Granderson consecutively singled to open the frame against Avilan. Lagares then launched the three-run homer for the lead.
Sean Gilmartin contributed two scoreless innings and earned the win.
Bobby Parnell, working for a second straight day as he returns from Tommy John surgery, had a scoreless seventh despite a leadoff walk.
After Hansel Robles allowed a two-out single in the eighth, Familia entered to protect the two-run lead. He retired Freddie Freeman to complete that frame when Herrera dove to his right for a sharp grounder and shoveled the ball to Wilmer Flores at second base.
Familia then notched his 19th save in 20 chances with a scoreless ninth.
Familia rejoined the Mets on Sunday after missing the previous day’s game to be with his fiancée and newborn son, Jeurys Jr. In his absence, the Mets had failed to hold a two-run ninth-inning lead and lost in 11 innings.
Familia now has four saves of more than one inning this season.
Geepers: Maybe that “six-man-light” rotation was not such a good idea. Making a spot start to give the regular rotation members extra rest, Gee was charged with a career-high-matching eight runs in 3 2/3 innings. He nonetheless was bailed out and received a no-decision.
Since setting a franchise record with 51 straight starts of at least five innings, Gee has now gone consecutive starts failing to reach that plateau. Of course, since returning from the DL for an ill-fated four-inning start in San Diego on June 3, Gee has been banished to the bullpen, made one relief appearance, traveled to Texas on bereavement leave, then started Sunday.
It was the second time in his career that Gee had surrendered eight runs. The other instance came on Aug. 22, 2011 against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he also lasted 3 2/3 innings.
What’s next: The Toronto Blue Jays, who entered Sunday on a 10-game winning streak, visit Citi Field. Noah Syndergaard faces his former organization in Monday’s 7:10 p.m. ET opener. Syndergaard (2-4, 4.15 ERA) opposes left-hander Mark Buehrle (7-4, 4.25). After two games in Queens, the teams shift to Toronto for a pair of games. Ex-Met R.A. Dickey faces the Amazin’s on Thursday.