NEW YORK (Interstat) — Bo Bichette hit a grand slam and a solo home run, driving in six runs, and the New York Mets overcame an early deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Friday night at Citi Field.

Bichette’s second-inning grand slam off Spencer Strider turned a 2-0 Atlanta lead into a 6-2 Mets advantage, and the shortstop added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning for what proved to be the decisive run. The Mets, who have won two of three after a four-game losing streak, improved to 31-38. The Braves, who entered with the best record in the National League at 45-23, dropped to 45-24.

Atlanta struck first against Mets starter Nolan McLean. Ozzie Albies walked to open the second inning, and Dominic Smith singled him home. Mike Yastrzemski followed with an RBI single, and after a walk to Ha-Seong Kim, the Braves had the bases loaded with one out. But McLean escaped further damage by striking out Austin Wynns and getting Mauricio Dubón on an infield fly.

The Mets answered emphatically in the bottom half. MJ Melendez doubled and Luis Torrens singled, putting runners at the corners. After Carson Benge was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Bichette launched a 1-0 pitch from Strider over the wall in right field for his eighth home run of the season, clearing the bases and putting New York ahead 6-2.

Strider, who had allowed only two hits through the first three innings before the grand slam, lasted 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered seven runs, six earned, on five hits and four walks while striking out four. The right-hander fell to 4-2.

Bichette’s solo shot in the first inning had given the Mets a 1-0 lead. After Juan Soto followed with a solo homer, his 15th of the year, New York led 2-0 before Atlanta’s two-run second.

Atlanta chipped away in the fifth when Matt Olson led off with his 20th home run of the season, a line drive to center field off reliever Cionel Pérez, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

The Mets added an insurance run in the fourth without a hit. Melendez walked, moved to third on a Torrens single and scored on Bichette’s sacrifice fly to center, making it 7-3.

New York’s bullpen held Atlanta in check for much of the night. Nolan McLean worked four innings, allowing three runs on three hits with six strikeouts. Huascar Brazobán retired all five batters he faced, striking out four. Pérez (3-3) got the win despite allowing a run in 1 1/3 innings. Devin Williams earned his 10th save, working 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

The Braves mounted a rally in the eighth. Michael Harris II singled and advanced to third on a groundout. Albies singled him home. After a strikeout, Austin Riley doubled to put runners at second and third. Pinch-hitter Eli White then singled through the left side, scoring Albies and cutting the lead to 7-5. But Rowdy Tellez flied out to left to end the threat.

In the ninth, Williams allowed a one-out single to Dubón but struck out Harris and Olson to end the game.

Bichette, who entered the game in a 1-for-12 slump over his previous three contests, finished 2-for-3 with two homers and six RBIs. Soto went 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk. For Atlanta, Albies had two hits and an RBI, Olson homered, and White delivered a pinch-hit RBI single.

JR Ritchie of Atlanta pitched five scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out five, but the Braves’ offense could not complete the comeback. Strider took the loss.

The game featured three home runs and 17 total hits. Attendance was 38,438. Time of game was 3:04.

Atlanta next plays at New York on Saturday in the second game of this three-game series. The Braves then return home for six games against San Francisco and Milwaukee. The Mets continue their homestand Saturday against Atlanta before traveling to Cincinnati for three games.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Atlanta 6, New York 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Atlanta a 57.80 percent probability to win. The Braves were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total of 12 runs went under the over-under line of 7.5.