The Braves are going to need contributions from everyone in their lineup if they hope to make a run in October. As we all remembered this weekend, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann can carry an offense for days at a time when they are going right.
Sunday afternoon was McCann's time to shine. Mac drove home two of the Braves' three runs to lead the club to a 3-2 victory over the Mets.
Tommy Hanson, who is essentially the team's fifth starter these days, worked 5.2 innings of two-run ball. He surrendered just four hits and a walk, striking out five with his big curveball. Chris Young was equally effective for New York, tossing six innings of two-run ball.
The Mets struck first with an RBI-single from Ike Davis in the fourth inning. The Braves battled right back though, tying the game at 1-1 in the fifth with a Michael Bourn single that plated Jose Constanza.
In the top of the sixth, McCann hit a deep home run to right-center field to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. That lead lasted all of a few minutes; with a runner on second and two outs, David Wright doubled down the left field line to tie the game once again.
The score remained 2-2 until the 10th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, McCann smoked a ball to the warning track in right field. Scott Hairston made a nice play to haul the ball in, but it was deep enough to bring home the go-ahead run.
Peter Moylan came on for the save in the bottom half of the frame. Craig Kimbrel had previously worked the ninth due to the heart of the Mets order being up. Moylan surrendered an infield single and walk, but he forced Wright to pop out for the final out of the game.
Atlanta will now head to Milwaukee for a three-game series with the red-hot Brewers.