ATLANTA — Steven Matz’s best road start of the season carried the Mets into the seventh inning Wednesday night and then all hell broke loose.
First, manager Mickey Callaway removed the left-hander at 79 pitches — after allowing him to bat in the previous half inning — and then the usually reliable Seth Lugo produced his first dud of the second half. The Braves singled Lugo into submission, scoring five runs in sending the Mets to a third straight loss, 6-4 at SunTrust Park.
Lugo allowed four straight singles after walking Josh Donaldson leading off the seventh, and the Mets (61-59) never fully recovered in falling three games behind in the race for the NL’s second wild card.