Olson homers again but Lopez leaves with injury as Braves beat Mets 9-2 for 4-game win

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Olson hit a home run in consecutive games for the first time this season, and the Atlanta Braves overcame an injury to All-Star starting pitcher Reynaldo López in a 9-2 rout of the New York Mets on Sunday.

Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia and Ramón Laureano also did well for the Braves, who managed to salvage a four-game division after losing the first two games of the series. They hold the National League’s top wild card and moved ahead of New York for second place in the NL East.

Lopez pitched three scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.06, before leaving the game with right forearm tightness. His fate is a day-to-day affair. Atlanta already has a string of stars on the injured list.

Pete Alonso hit a two-run home run and Tyrone Taylor hit two doubles for New York. Hours before the game, the Mets finalized a trade with Washington for outfielder Jesse Winker. He received a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd before retiring as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

Olson threw his bat and helmet in frustration after being struck out by David Peterson (5-1) in the first inning. But Olson then launched a three-run home run 426 feet into the upper deck in right field to give Atlanta a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.

It was Olson’s fourth home run against the New York left-hander in 15 at-bats.

Arcia drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning. He hit a solo home run in the seventh inning and Riley added a two-run hit against Ryne Stanek, who was making his Mets debut after being acquired Friday night in a trade with Seattle.

Laureano’s two-run drive in the eighth inning made it 9-0.

Dylan Lee (3-2) replaced Lopez early in the fourth and pitched two scoreless innings.

New York had six hits, including four doubles, in the first five innings but failed to score, going just one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. The Mets threatened in the fifth after a leadoff double by Taylor, but he was struck out by Laureano on a single by Ben Gamel to center field.

Braves: Left-handed pitcher Max Fried (forearm) threw a long pitch in the outfield. He is eligible to come off the injured list Friday.

Mets: Right fielder Harrison Bader missed his fifth straight game with a sore right ankle. … Right-handed reliever Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) took a rehab visit with High-A Brooklyn, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. … Right-handed reliever Reed Garrett (elbow inflammation) will face batters Wednesday before likely beginning a rehab assignment two days later.

Braves: Right-handed starting pitcher Grant Holmes (0-0, 2.70 ERA) makes his first career start Monday night as Atlanta opens a three-game series at Milwaukee. The 28-year-old rookie spent nearly 10 years in the minor leagues before being recalled in mid-June. Right-handed starting pitcher Colin Rea (9-3, 3.60 ERA) pitches for the Brewers.

Mets: Left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana (5-6, 4.02 ERA) starts against Minnesota at home. Right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1, 3.27), a former Mets farm player, pitches for the Twins.