Braves Suffer Crushing Loss to Mets, End Series in New York on a Down Note

The Braves can't get back to Atlanta soon enough.

A road trip that included two losses to the White Sox in Chicago, a rainout Thursday, injuries to right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and starting pitcher Spencer Strider, and a long travel delay Thursday night into Friday morning, ended with a resounding thud in an 8-1 loss Sunday to the Mets at Citi Field. The defeat marked the eighth consecutive loss for Atlanta in a grueling stretch of 11 games.

The Braves struggled to find their footing in the series, plagued by defensive missteps and inconsistent pitching, a stark contrast to their explosive offense that has propelled them to the top of the National League East.

'I think we're all tired,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said after the game. 'We've been playing 33 games in a month. When you play that many games, it takes a toll.'

Acuña, who missed the series opener due to injury, returned Sunday but was limited to just two hits in 14 at-bats. Meanwhile, Strider, who left his last start with shoulder soreness, is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of his injury.

The Braves still have a six-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the division, but Sunday's loss serves as a sobering reminder that the division title is far from secured.

— Chad Bishop is the Braves beat writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution