Juan Soto (2 HRs) sets MLB record as Mets drop Braves

Juan Soto hit two homers Wednesday night for the host New York Mets, who ended their drought against the Atlanta Braves by cruising to a 7-3 victory in the third game of a four-game series.

Ronny Mauricio also homered for the Mets, who won for just the second time in their last 12 games. New York entered Tuesday 0-5 against the Braves since June 17.

Drake Baldwin homered in the fourth while Ronald Acuna Jr. had a two-run single in the ninth for the Braves, who fell to 10-12 this month.

Mauricio and Baldwin swapped homers in consecutive half-innings before Soto put the Mets ahead for good in the bottom of the fourth. His leadoff round-tripper off Braves starter Didier Fuentes (0-2) sparked a five-run outburst for a 6-1 lead.

Starling Marte produced a sacrifice fly and Brett Baty had an RBI single before Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo greeted reliever Aaron Bummer with a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single, respectively.

Soto went deep again in the seventh to cap his fourth two-homer game of the season and 27th multi-homer game of his career -- the most multi-homer games in MLB history for a player before turning 27. Soto, who won't be 27 until Oct. 25, broke a record he held with Jimmie Foxx.

Mauricio had a career-high three hits while Baty and Jeff McNeil finished with two hits apiece. McNeil, a natural infielder, also robbed Marcell Ozuna of a likely two-run homer with a leaping catch at the wall in the first.

Clay Holmes (8-4) went five innings and allowed one run on three hits and four walks while striking out two.

Brandon Waddell, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek each tossed a scoreless inning before the Braves scored twice in the ninth against Jonathan Pintaro, who was making his major league debut. With two on, Edwin Diaz retired Ozuna on a fielder's choice to earn his 16th save.

Fuentes, a 20-year-old who is the youngest player in the majors, gave up six runs on eight hits with one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings.

--Field Level Media