Spencer Schwellenbach tossed seven strong innings and earned the win Monday night for the visiting Atlanta Braves, who beat the reeling New York Mets 3-2 in the opener of a four-game series between the National League East rivals.Michael Harris II delivered a second-inning sacrifice fly before Ronald Acuna Jr. homered and Sean Murphy lofted another sac fly an inning later for the Braves, who have won five of seven, including four straight against the Mets since last Tuesday.Juan Soto hit a two-run homer in the sixth but struck out with runners at the corners to end the eighth for the Mets, who have lost nine of 10 to fall 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. New York held a 5 1/2-game lead on June 12.Schwellenbach (6-4) gave up the two runs on four hits with one walk while striking out four. The right-hander retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one runner as far as second base until the sixth, when he walked Brandon Nimmo with two outs before Soto homered to center field.Raisel Iglesias allowed two-out singles to Francisco Lindor and Nimmo in the eighth before Dylan Lee whiffed Soto to cap an eight-pitch duel. Lee then threw a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season and the first save for the Braves since May 16.