HRs by Brown, Duda lead Mets over Braves

Atlanta, GA – Andrew Brown and Lucas Duda homered to back seven strong innings from Dillon Gee, as the New York Mets beat the NL East- leading Atlanta Braves 5-2 to avoid a three-game sweep.

Gee (11-9), who also had an RBI, gave up one run on four hits while striking out five for the Mets, who snapped a three-game skid. The right-hander has won four of his last five decisions.

"My main goals coming out of spring training this year were to get to 200 innings and take the ball every time it was my turn," Gee said. "I've done that so far."

Freddie Freeman hit a solo homer for the Braves, who had won eight of nine. B.J. Upton added an RBI.

Atlanta starter Kameron Loe (0-2), making his first start since 2007 while with Texas, allowed five runs on 11 hits while walking three over 4 1/3 innings.

The Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Daniel Murphy tripled to right and scored on Brown's homer to left.

Atlanta put men on second and third with one out in the bottom half. Gee, however, settled down and got Evan Gattis and Gerald Laird to go down swinging.

New York tacked on three more runs in the third. Duda led off with a homer to right. Justin Turner and Travis d'Arnaud followed with back-to-back singles to put men on the corners. Juan Lagares then grounded into a fielder's choice to plate a run. Two batters later, Gee hit an RBI single to left-center field.

Gee was also cruising along on the mound, retiring seven straight batters before running into some trouble in the fifth. Dan Uggla and Paul Janish hit consecutive singles to put men on first and third. Upton's sacrifice fly cut the gap to 5-1.

"He always gives us fits," Uggla said of Gee. "He just pounds the strike zone. It seems like every time he comes here he pitches really good."

Freeman homered off Vic Black in the eighth to make it a 5-2 game.

LaTroy Hawkins tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.

Game Notes

The Braves went 10-9 against the Mets this season ... Gee improved to 4-4 lifetime against Atlanta ... The Braves were trying for their 13th series sweep of the season ... Atlanta went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven, while New York went 3-for-11 with RISP and left 11 men on ... The Mets had 12 hits, compared to seven for the Braves.