MLB ROUNDUP: Mets drop SIXTH straight after blowing ninth-inning lead to Braves

The Mets led 10-7 in the eighth inning and still had a one-run advantage in the ninth but were unable to put away the Braves as they fell 13-10 in 10 innings.

New York got off to a tough start as Justin Verlander allowed three runs in the first inning, but the visitors responded in the top of the second with five runs as Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam.

From there, the Mets mostly led the rest of the way and added to their tally with two home runs from Francisco Alvarez.

However, after Drew Smith allowed a two-run homer to Travis D’Arnaud in the bottom of the eighth and David Robertson was taken the distance by Orlando Arcia in the ninth, Ozzie Albies finished things off in the 10th inning with a three-run shot.

Verlander, who joined on a two-year, $86.6million deal in the offseason, lasted just 3.0 innings, giving up four earned runs and seven hits.

The loss marks the sixth in the row for the Mets, who are now 30-33.

Atlanta, meanwhile, improved to 38-24 and has a 3.5-game first-place lead in the NL East. 

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies  after hitting a walk off three run home run

Albies gave the Braves the win in the 10th inning, and the shot was his only hit of the night

Justin Verlander lasted just three innings as he gave up four earned runs and seven hits

GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4

Brandon Crawford had a pinch-hit RBI double to spark a three-run ninth and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies for the 11th straight time, 6-4 on Thursday.

Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada homered to help San Francisco sweep its seventh straight series from Colorado. Scott Alexander (5-0) got the win with an inning of relief and Camilo Doval finished for his 16th save.

Nolan Jones had three hits for the Rockies. They have lost four straight.

Giants 3B coach Mark Hallberg and Thairo Estrada celebrate a home run in the first inning

 DODGERS 6, REDS 0

Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings, Chris Taylor hit his 10th home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Thursday.

Kershaw (8-4) scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two to help Los Angeles snap its four-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep against the Reds, who won the previous two games in walk-off fashion.

Los Angeles improved to 10-3 against Cincinnati dating to September 2021.

Clayton Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings for the Dodgers on Thursday vs. the Reds

RAYS 4, TWINS 2

Yonny Chirinos pitched well into the sixth inning, Harold Ramírez homered during a three-run fourth and the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Chirinos (3-1), recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in his first big league appearance since April 29. Jason Adam, the third Rays reliever, worked the ninth for his 10th save.

Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor homered for the Twins (31-32), who have lost a season-high five consecutive games. They have totaled seven runs in the past six games.

The Rays’ Harold Ramires celebrates his two-run homer with third base coach Brady Williams