Mets take series over Braves at festive Citi Field after Knicks championship win

The Mets are hoping the Knicks’ orange and blue championship vibes carry over to Queens.A day after the Knicks won their first title in over half a century, Citi Field was turned into Madison Square Garden East, with plenty of highlights and organ melodies taken straight from The World’s Most Famous Arena.And against the Braves on Sunday, it seemed to work, as the Mets beat the first-place Braves, 8-1, to take the series.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

There was a bounceback start from Freddy Peralta, a breakout game at the plate from A.J.Ewing and solid work out of the bullpen.Now, the Mets will look to build on this little bit of success as they head out on the road.They face the Reds — one of the seven teams they have to pass to get into the playoffs — in Cincinnati beginning Monday.The Mets used a four-run first inning and five solid innings from Peralta en route to the victory, as Peralta was much better than in his previous outing, when the right-hander allowed a season-worst six runs.He allowed three straight singles to start the game, as Atlanta loaded the bases with no one out for Ozzie Albies, who whiffed for the first out.Ex-Met Dominic Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Michael Harris II for the first run of the game.Austin Riley popped out to second to end the 28-pitch inning after just the one scored.The Mets knocked around right-hander Bryce Elder in the bottom of the inning to go ahead.Carson Benge led off with a walk and Bo Bichette singled to left.Juan Soto followed with a bizarre bunt attempt that turned into a force-out at third, as he left it just in front of the plate.Jared Young helped make up for Soto’s mistake with a run-scoring single to center to tie the game.Ewing gave the Mets the lead with a double to left that scored Soto.

It was the first of his three hits on the day.On the double, Mike Yastrzems...