After July 4 rout: Walt Weiss and the Braves rediscover their power

9 home runs in two games changed the tone of Atlanta's series with New York. After a three-week stretch in which the Braves' power had faded, Walt Weiss' team followed a four-homer win Friday with five more in a 14-3 blowout Saturday at Truist Park.

The Bottom Line

• Atlanta hit four home runs Friday in a 5-3 win, then added five more Saturday in a 14-3 rout.
• Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson powered the opener; Harris homered again Saturday alongside Eli White, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley.
• The Braves had entered Friday with only 14 homers since June 9 and a 5-14 record over that span.
• Walt Weiss said home runs have long been part of Atlanta's identity, even as the club tries not to depend on them.
• The Mets dropped to 36-53 and 17 games under .500 after losing 12 of their last 14.

Breaking It Down

The turnaround began Friday. Atlanta managed only five hits, but four of them left the yard in a 5-3 win. Harris opened the scoring with a two-run homer, Albies hit a go-ahead shot, and Olson went deep twice. According to MLB.com, it was the first time in Braves history the club hit four home runs while collecting five hits or fewer.

The Braves entered Friday ranked last in the majors with 14 home runs since June 9, the start of a 5-14 stretch. They had not even reached three homers in a game since May 30. Olson, who had gone 16 games without a homer, broke out with his second multi-homer game of the season and reached a team-leading 22.

Saturday turned a promising rebound into a full offensive eruption. Eli White homered in the second and later drove in three more runs on a pop-up that fell between Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor. Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Harris also went deep as Atlanta finished with 14 runs. White drove in four, Riley three, and Harris collected three hits.

Chris Sale, named an All-Star for the 10th time before the game, allowed three runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. Dylan Lee then struck out three straight Mets hitters on 11 pitches, and rookie JR Ritchie threw three scoreless innings to finish the game. The full 14-3 game account shows how completely the Braves controlled the night.

We all love homers and we're capable of doing that. It's been part of our identity here for a long time.

Multi-homer game

A game in which a team hits at least two home runs.

RISP

Runners in scoring position, meaning a runner is on second or third base.

Why This Matters

For Atlanta, the two-game burst is less about one spectacular holiday weekend than the relationship between power and winning. The Braves are 26-5 when they hit at least two homers in a game and 11-1 when they hit at least three. That record explains why the return of the long ball carries real weight for Weiss and his club.

The Mets have lost 12 of 14, scored three runs or fewer in five straight games, and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position Saturday. Their defensive mistake in the third inning helped turn a 2-0 game into a 5-0 deficit, while every Mets pitcher who appeared later allowed at least one home run. For US baseball fans, the series now carries a sharp contrast between Atlanta's rebound and New York's slide.

No team has reached the postseason from 17 games under .500, according to Elias Sports Bureau data cited by Yahoo Sports. Atlanta's own position is different: the Braves entered the series after three consecutive series losses, but the back-to-back wins have at least restored the offensive trait Weiss identified as central to the club.

What Comes Next

The four-game series continues Sunday, with Braves left-hander Martín Pérez scheduled to face Mets right-hander Nolan McLean at 12:30 p.m. ET. McLean is coming off six scoreless innings in his previous appearance.

For Atlanta, the immediate question is whether the home-run surge carries into the rest of the series. For New York, the challenge is more basic: stop the losing streak from turning an already steep deficit into an even deeper hole.

FAQ

What did Walt Weiss say about the Braves' home runs?

Weiss said the Braves are capable of winning with home runs and that power has been part of the team's identity for a long time. His comment came after Atlanta hit four homers in Friday's 5-3 win.

How many home runs did the Braves hit against the Mets?

Atlanta hit nine home runs across the first two games of the series. The Braves hit four Friday and five more Saturday.

Who homered for the Braves in the 14-3 win?

Eli White, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II all homered Saturday. Harris also had three hits in the game.

How bad is the Mets' losing streak?

The Mets have lost 12 of their last 14 games and fell to 36-53, which is 17 games under .500. They also scored three runs or fewer for a fifth straight game Saturday.

When is the next Braves vs. Mets game?

The next game is scheduled for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Martín Pérez is set to start for Atlanta against Nolan McLean for New York.