Mets blow six-run lead, routed by Braves 11-6, playoff hopes fade

The Mets’ late-season slide intensified Wednesday night as they squandered a six-run lead and were routed by the Atlanta Braves 11-6 at Citi Field, marking their 12th defeat in 14 games. The loss followed a rare bright spot a night earlier when Pete Alonso became the franchise’s all-time home run leader, but it trimmed New York’s cushion in the playoff race to a precarious one-game edge over the Cincinnati Reds while the Phillies widened their division lead.

Offense began early for the Mets, who sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning, chasing former Met Carlos Carrasco with a flurry that included Alonso’s two-run single and a Cedric Mullins sacrifice fly that pushed the advantage to 3-0. Francisco Lindor’s leadoff double set the tone for a productive first, followed by a two-run homer from Juan Soto in the second that made it 5-0. Lindor also contributed a run-scoring hit, and Soto’s continued power kept Mets fans hopeful through the early frames.

The tone shifted in the fourth inning, however, as David Peterson’s start collapsed. The left-hander walked four batters, loading the bases and setting up Jurickson Profar for a three-run double that cut New York’s lead to...