ATLANTA — Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda should get used to the idea of producing important hits — it might be the Mets’ only chance for respectability next season.
Yesterday, that tandem had another growth spurt. First, Tejada put the Mets ahead with an RBI single against Atlanta’s Jonny Venters in the eighth inning. Duda then homered against stud closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for insurance, helping secure a 7-5 victory over the Braves at Turner Field.
Considering the dynamic duo of Venters and Kimbrel hadn’t been scored upon in the same game this season, the Mets might as well have pulled a rabbit from manager Terry Collins’ cap.
“They know what a great bullpen the Braves have, but all the talk in the dugout was, ‘We can do this,’ ” Collins said after the Mets rallied from a 5-4 deficit in the eighth. “We got some big hits.”
Tejada, who started at shortstop to give Jose Reyes a breather, finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, and is batting .318 since returning from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 8. With Reyes unsigned beyond the next nine games, each Tejada at-bat has been scrutinized.
In yesterday’s eighth inning, after Ronny Paulino had walked with the bases loaded to tie the game, Tejada placed a Venters fastball in front of right fielder Jason Heyward to give the Mets a 6-5 lead.
Last year, fatigue may have been a factor for Tejada after getting recalled by the Mets in August. He struggled over the final two months and finished the season with a .213 batting average.
“This year I feel really good,” Tejada said. “I’m more experienced this year.”
Duda’s homer was his 10th of the season — all of which have come since July 23. His 37 second-half RBIs are the fifth most by a rookie in franchise history.
Kimbrel had worked the count to 2-2 against Duda before leaving a fastball over the plate that disappeared behind the center-field fence. The rookie sensation Kimbrel hadn’t allowed a homer in his previous 49 1/3 innings.
“It’s a day — you really can’t base a whole season on a day,” Duda said. “But it feels good.”
Collins likes the Mets’ right field situation for next season a little more with each passing game.
“The most important thing Lucas should take from this is that he can play here,” Collins said. “Obviously when he first came up, some of the comments he made, ‘I don’t know if I can play here, I don’t know if I can hit here, it’s the big leagues,’ and it was about building some confidence.
“I think for sure he should leave at the end of this year saying, ‘I can play there and I can play good there.’ “
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Lefty reliever Tim Byrdak will remain with the Mets, after yesterday agreeing to a one-year contract extension. Byrdak, who is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 69 appearances, made $900,000 this year. With lefty relief at a premium, general manager Sandy Alderson didn’t want to wait until after the season to begin negotiations with Byrdak.
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Angel Pagan has battled a quadriceps injury in recent weeks, according to Collins, and was given the day off yesterday. Pagan is expected to play in St. Louis tomorrow.