Michael Harris stays “in the zone” as the Braves remain in the race for the playoffs

ATLANTA – Michael Harris II came on at just the right time and delivered another outstanding performance for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, leading them to a decisive 5-1 victory over the New York Mets that kept his team’s playoff hopes alive.

Harris hit 3-for-4 and hit a home run, but missed the Braves’ cycle by a triple and is now one game behind the Mets in the National League wild-card race with five games remaining.

Harris has multiple hits in five straight games, catching 13 of 24 (.542). He also made another spectacular catch in center field on Tuesday, stealing a hit from Mets rookie Luisangel Acuna.

Manager Brian Snitker said the game reminded him of former Braves star Andruw Jones.

“I feel like I’m in my element right now,” Harris said when asked why he shook his head after the catch. “I didn’t originally think I would get there.”

Harris added: “It’s like an out-of-body experience.”

Harris wasn’t the only young star to shine for the weakened Braves. Right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach pitched seven innings, holding the Mets to one run on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

For Schwellenbach, this was his second consecutive standout performance against the Mets, after he had 11 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 win on July 27.

“He reminds me of (Spencer) Strider in his rookie year,” Harris said of the Braves star, who is out for the year after elbow surgery. “How calm he is in these big games against good teams.”

Tuesday’s game was the start of a crucial three-game series against the Mets, who share the Diamondbacks for the last two playoff spots. Arizona hosts the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.