I feel like every time we’ve played on Sunday Night Baseball this year so far, we’ve suffered some horrible loss that caused me to say, “Yeah…that’s a morning recap. I’d rather somebody prop my eyelids open all night than have to relive that right away.” Well not tonight, baby! Tonight we get our biggest win of the year so far!

The Braves won 5-3 Sunday night at a raucous Truist Park to move two games ahead of the Mets in the race for the NL East crown with three games left. It was their 100th win of the season, marking the first time the franchise has accomplished that since 2003. The win also means Atlanta wins the season series over the New Yorkers, 10-9. That’s big because there are no one-game playoffs this year. If the division finishes tied, the winner of the season series wins it. As such, our effective magic number is down to 1, with any Braves win or Mets loss over the next three days clinching the title.

Dansby Swanson opened the proceedings tonight with a homer in his third straight game, launching a ball into the Atlanta bullpen to give the home side a 1-0 edge. However, they would be forced to mount another early comeback. Daniel Vogelbach launched a game-tying homer in the second, then New York mounted a rally in the third. The extremely annoying Jeff McNeil (I swear to God he singled on a pitch that was a foot outside in this game) led off the frame with a homer to give the Mets the lead, then Pete Alonso, Eduardo Escobar and Vogelbach hit three straight singles. Alonso scored on the last of those to give the visitors a 3-1 lead and put runners at the corners with nobody out. With Mark Canha batting, Austin Riley let a slow roller down the third-base line go under the assumption that he might not have been able to get an out (and certainly would’ve allowed another run) had he fielded it. It was on the line and was 50-50 to go foul, but it just barely did. Had it caught a piece of the bag, the rally would’ve continued with at least a 4-1 lead and still nobody out. As it was though, it proved a turning point in the game. Canha popped out, Luis Guillorme struck out and James McCann grounded out, allowing Morton to escape further damage. Then the Braves answered back in the bottom half of the frame.

Orlando Arcia singled, Ronald Acuna walked, and Dansby flew out deep to center, allowing both runners to move up. Then with two outs, Riley got hit by a pitch and Matt Olson walked with the bases loaded, making it 3-2. The Mets had a chance to lift Chris Bassitt at this point, but didn’t. I probably would’ve stayed with him as well, to be honest, but it’s a decision that wound up costing the Mets. Travis d’Arnaud made sure of that one batter later, when he lined a two-run single to center field to give the Braves the lead back.

After that, it was a matter of the Braves pitching staff holding onto the lead. Morton was offered a short leash, and was pulled after 4.1 innings, having allowed three runs on nine hits. He did strike out five. Dylan Lee came on in relief with one on in the fifth and pitched 1.1 excellent innings, striking out two. He walked Brandon Nimmo with two outs in the sixth, though, and was lifted for Collin McHugh, who swiftly struck out Francisco Lindor. Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter each allowed a hit but got through their innings, leading to the third straight night of Kenley Jansen. Cue the customary rending of garments, but there wasn’t a need to worry…he was absolute nails. Seven pitches, seven strikes, setting down the top of the Mets order 1-2-3.

So now, we’re on the verge of our fifth straight division title and another trip to the Division Series. Let’s win tomorrow night and give ourselves a week off, boys!