Catcher Kevin Plawecki made an impressive big league debut, contributing with his bat and glove as the banged-up New York Mets won their ninth straight game by beating the Atlanta Braves 7-1 Tuesday night.
The Mets extended their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2008. The team record is 11 in row, last done in 1990.
Curtis Granderson drove in four runs and Jonathon Niese (2-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, helping the Mets stretch the best home start in club history to 8-0 at Citi Field.
A highly regarded prospect, Plawecki got two hits, scored twice and threw out a runner trying to advance on a ball in the dirt.
Plawecki was promoted from Triple-A earlier in the day to replace catcher Travis d'Arnaud, out for at least three weeks after breaking a finger when he was hit by a pitch Sunday. The Mets lost reliever Jerry Blevins to a broken forearm in that same game, and are still minus injured third baseman David Wright.
D'Arnaud took Plawecki out for dinner during Monday's off-day, telling the 24-year-old minor leaguer that he was ready for the majors. Plawecki, drafted by the Mets in 2012 with a compensation pick they got for losing Jose Reyes to free agency, did more than fine in front of a rooting section that included his parents and fiance.
The Braves, meanwhile, hurt themselves. They'd made only one error in their first 12 games before committing two — second baseman Phil Gosselin fumbled a potential double-play grounder by Niese, keying a four-run burst in the fifth inning.
Local
Niese blanked the Braves until his 100th pitch, which Cameron Maybin hit for a two-out home run in the seventh. Umpires originally held Maybin at second base, then let him trot home after a replay review.
Mets reliever Alex Torres ended the seventh with a 5-1 lead by striking out Freddie Freeman with two runners on, the third time the Atlanta cleanup man fanned.
Niese gave up four hits, struck out five and walked four.
Trevor Cahill (0-2) was chased in the fifth. He's lost six straight decisions dating to last season with Arizona.
Plawecki grounded a single to left field for his first hit and fueled the big fifth. He later scored on Granderson's two-run single.
In the sixth, Plawecki pounced on a pitch in the dirt that bounced away and threw out Andrelton Simmons at second. Plawecki singled again in the eighth and scored on a double by Granderson.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: Wright (pulled hamstring) is "advancing" in his recovery and is expected to begin baseball activities soon, manager Terry Collins said. ... Closer Bobby Parnell (Tommy John surgery) gave up two hits and walked two while getting only two outs for Class A St. Lucie.
UP NEXT
Braves: Eric Stults is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts. Signed as a free agent before spring training, the 35-year-old lefty was 8-17 for San Diego last season.
Mets: RHP Dillon Gee (0-1) has made 48 straight starts of at least five innings dating to May 2013, the longest active string in the majors. The team record is 50 by Dwight Gooden.
