NEW YORK -- Jeurys Familia made the case for his All-Star worthiness without even throwing a pitch.
With Familia unavailable a day after logging a 25-pitch workload, then hustling to Hackensack to be with hours-old son Jeurys Jr., manager Terry Collins asked Hansel Robles to record his third professional save -- and first save since 2011 with Class A Kingsport.
That went dismally.
And after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth, the New York Mets ultimately lost to the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Cameron Maybin’s two-run single in the 11th inning against Carlos Torres.
The Mets had been 30-0 when leading after eight innings this season before Saturday’s flop. They now lead the Washington Nationals by only a half-game in the NL East.
Summoned to protect a 3-1 lead in the ninth, Robles allowed the first two baserunners to reach. Still, Robles appeared poised to escape when he coaxed a seeming game-ending double-play grounder to shortstop. However, Wilmer Flores couldn't handle the grounder cleanly and had to settle for one out. Maybin followed with a two-out RBI single that pulled Atlanta within a run and chased Robles.
Alex Torres, looking to rebound from a shaky appearance the previous day, was summoned to face slugger Freddie Freeman with two men on base. Torres allowed a game-tying single to Freeman on a full-count offering.
Familia is 18-for-19 in save chances this season.
Dueling aces: Shelby Miller had taken a 1-0 lead into the seventh while locked in a duel with Jacob deGrom. Hitting for deGrom, Juan Lagares then produced a one-out single and Curtis Granderson followed with a double. With two in scoring position, Travis d’Arnaud delivered a line single into center field. Maybin failed to handle the ball cleanly, allowing the second baserunner to score. D’Arnaud was credited with only one RBI.
The hit nonetheless gave the Mets a 2-1 lead and chased Miller, who had entered the game with the second-best ERA in the NL (1.84).
Ex-Met Dana Eveland entered. After a wild pitch moved d’Arnaud to second base, Lucas Duda gave the Mets a two-run cushion with an RBI double.
Before that frame, the game’s lone damage had come on a two-out solo homer in the first inning by Freeman. The shot traveled 437 feet and struck the base of the Shea Bridge in right-center.
DeGrom, the reigning NL Player of the Week co-honoree along with the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, allowed one run on five hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out nine in a 102-pitch effort. DeGrom has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his past six starts. His ERA dipped to 2.33.
Miller was charged with three runs on eight hits and two walks in 6â…“ innings.
D’Arnaud is 4-for-13 with two doubles and two RBIs in three games since returning from a fractured right pinkie finger.
Welcome back: Bobby Parnell made his first major league appearance since Opening Day 2014. Inheriting a 3-1 lead and a runner on first base with two outs in the eighth, Parnell allowed a single to Jonny Gomes, then retired A.J. Pierzynski on a groundout to second. His fastball sat at 91-92 mph. Parnell underwent Tommy John surgery on April 8, 2014.
Triple threat: Danny Muno, making his third start of the season at third base for the Mets, had a three-error game. The error total matched the franchise record, most recently done by David Wright on April 19, 2006. Muno went 0-for-3 with a walk at the plate. He is 2-for-24 on the season and could be a roster casualty soon. Eric Campbell replaced Muno for the ninth inning.
Well-armed: Maybin had a leadoff double in the eighth and stole third. But Darrell Ceciliani threw out Maybin at the plate on a would-be sacrifice fly to preserve a 3-1 lead. Ceciliani had moved to left field that inning, with Lagares staying in the game after pinch-hitting in the previous frame.
What’s next: The teams play the rubber game at at 1:10 p.m. ET Sunday. Dillon Gee comes off bereavement leave for a spot start in the “six-man-light” rotation. Gee (0-3, 4.50 ERA) opposes right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 4.72). The Mets will need to make as many as three roster moves. In addition to Gee’s activation, Ruben Tejada returns from paternity leave. The Mets also claimed Kirk Nieuwenhuis off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday and apparently plan to activate him soon.
