NEW YORK — Adding to a rival’s recent woes with a big comeback win is satisfying. But doing so while also gaining further confidence that Michael Harris II has righted himself was the greatest reward the Braves gained from an 11-6 win over the Mets on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
Harris tallied two hits, including a grand slam, during a nine-run fourth inning that erased the damage of Carlos Carrasco’s ugly start and propelled the Braves to their fifth win in their past seven games. This successful run has been fueled by Harris’ resurgence and the post-Trade Deadline awakening of Marcell Ozuna.
Ozuna’s two-run homer in the sixth inning was his 20th of the season and his fourth in his past four games. A late surge will enhance wonder about why he wasn’t traded and would also bolster the veteran designated hitter’s free-agent market. Unless he returns to Atlanta next year, a late-season surge won’t give the Braves any long-term benefits.
But Harris’ turnaround has given the Braves reason to feel better about what he could offer next year and over the remainder of his contract, which includes options for the 2031 and ’32 seasons.
The 24-year-old center fielder ranked last among all qualified MLB players with the .551 OPS he produced before the All-Star break, but he entered Wednesday ranked sixth with the 1.061 OPS he’s constructed since the break.
Harris’ latest contributions erased what had the makings to be an ugly night. Carrasco, one of the castoffs being used to fill the gaps in Atlanta’s injury-depleted rotation, allowed six runs over two innings. The Braves bullpen kept the Mets scoreless the rest of the way and preserved the fourth-inning eruption, which included five walks and four hits.
Jurickson Profar tallied a three-run double against Mets starter David Peterson and Harris, who singled earlier in the frame, capped the big inning with a grand slam that just cleared the center-field wall. It was the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year’s 13th homer of the season and seventh in 25 games since the break.
