Jacob deGrom gives Mets what they desperately needed

ATLANTA — The Mets turned to the oldest trick in the book Tuesday in search of a motivational boost.

With ace Jacob deGrom ready to take the mound, a team meeting was called in the visitor’s clubhouse at SunTrust Park. And for a night the Mets’ flaws vanished, getting manager Mickey Callaway’s beleaguered crew back to even on this important road trip.

DeGrom fired 8 ¹/₃ dominant innings and Pete Alonso carried the lineup in a 10-2 victory over the Braves that snapped the Mets’ two-game losing skid.

A night after a 12-3 pounding by the Braves in which a bullpen implosion contributed to an all-around lackluster effort, the Mets (35-38) played a game that was among their most complete of the season.

Freddie Freeman and Josh Donaldson each homered in the ninth as deGrom lost his shutout and complete-game bid. Robert Gsellman entered to get the final two outs of the game.

DeGrom, who threw 113 pitches, allowed five hits and struck out 10. It came with Tomas Nido behind the plate, as Wilson Ramos received a rest following a rough game blocking pitches in the dirt.

Alonso reached base six times and finished 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, helping the Mets knock out nemesis Julio Teheran after only four innings. The homer was Alonso’s 24th — moving him within two of Darryl Strawberry’s franchise rookie record, set in 1983.

The Mets are scheduled to play another nine games on this road trip that includes series against the Cubs and Phillies. By the conclusion they could have a better idea whether they will be buyers or sellers heading to the July 31 trade deadline.

A bullpen in flux received a mini makeover before the game, when Jeurys Familia was placed on the injured list for the second time this season because of shoulder issues. The team also optioned Drew Gagnon to Triple-A Syracuse, recalling Daniel Zamora and selecting Stephen Nogosek.

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The bulk of the Mets’ damage occurred in the third inning, with nine batters coming to the plate and four runs scoring. Alonso smashed an RBI double that produced the game’s first run before Michael Conforto doubled in another. Todd Frazier delivered an RBI groundout, and Amed Rosario’s run-scoring single provided deGrom with a comfortable cushion.

Jeff McNeil singled leading off the fourth and stole second before Alonso cleared the fence in right-center to give the Mets a 6-0 lead.

Robinson Cano’s RBI double in the sixth extended that lead and Frazier walked with the bases loaded an inning later to put the Mets ahead 8-0. Conforto blasted his 14th homer of the season to give the Mets their ninth run. McNeil’s homer in the ninth extended that lead to 10-0.

DeGrom, who turns 31 on Wednesday, had a three-hit gem in Miami on April 3 in which he struck out 14, but considering the opponent this latest performance might have shined brighter.

It came against a Braves team that had averaged 8.18 runs over its previous 11 games — Atlanta’s highest scoring output over such a stretch since 2006.

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