The Mets have one of their best opportunities in recent years to finally take down the banged-up Braves, their forever nemesis. But they certainly cant do it like this. It was a mild and lovely night in Flushing, and the Mets nicely celebrated the entire county of Queens. Fans moods turned south, however, as they started to realize the Mets scary slide was about to continue. Booing began Josh Donaldson Jersey when Mets starter Paul Blackburn, pitching in his home debut and against his former team, gave up an early three-run home run. Half-hearted boos were sprinkled throughout the lovely evening. They were deserved. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reacts after striking out against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning at Citi Field on Tuesday night. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST The soon-to-be-Sacramento As to make it four straight lo ses for the team from Queens and raise more doubt about a squad that erased a huge hole to move into playoff position before falling back out in recent days. Unlike in the Mets wasted weekend in Seattle, there were no excuses. The Mets are no longer playing a contender on the final leg of an arduous, exhausting four-city, three-time-zone trip. No, they followed a full days rest with a Citi Field date against an also-ran. Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez reacts after getting hit by a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at Citi Field on August 13, 2024. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST They arent still toiling in the shadows in Seattle, where the gra s is too thick and the air even thicker. And they are no longer facing the Mariners dynamic pitching staff. The starter Tuesday night for the still-Oakland As was a minor-league call-up, Joe Boyle, who came into the night toting a 7.16 ERA. There was ample reason to give the Mets a pa s for their awful three-game stay in Seattle, as it came on the end of the longest trip of the season in the city farthest from their home base. Sure, the Mets played their worst series in Seattle, getting outscored 22-1. But they get half a pa s here considering the opponent, the conditions and, frankly, the exhaustion. More From Jon Heyman This one is much more worrisome. The Mets had no alibi for this. And if they cant ultimately beat out the hated Braves for the sixth and final playoff spot, similarly, there also will be no excuse for that. Putting it mildly, the Braves winners of the NL East six years running are a physical me s now. For a change, they should be very vulnerable. If the Mets are ever going to outdo those guys, this should be that season. Atlanta Braves Travis dArnaud, right, is congratulated by Orlando Arcia after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. AP The Mets valiantly dug themselves out of a hole 11 games below .500 to move into playoff position, but stand 1 games behind the Braves after this latest debacle. Meantime, the Braves limp ahead. Braves ace Spencer Strider is out for the year. Ronald Acuna Jr., he of the 40-70 miracle, is also gone for 2024. Whats more, most of the rest of Atlantas elite players are either under the weather or underperforming. Even if they dont look so hot lately, the healthier Mets should still be able to unseat them. Ever since Ive been here theyve been a thorn in our side, Brandon Nimmo said about the Braves. Weve been knocked out by them plenty of times. Definitely, theyre a team we would like to turn the tables on. It would be nice to have Atlanta on the outside looking in. I get it. This was supposed to be a transitional year at 41 Seaver Way. But a lot has happened since the two rivals took the field in late March, and much of it for the Braves involves pain. Injuries have knocked them down, but not out. Hurting but surviving, is the way a Braves person summarized their situation. It definitely sure seems like this would be our time to step up and take hold of this here, Nimmo said. The Mets health is better than most, and way better than the Braves. They , who had i sues with his shoulder, his timetable and finally his calf. They are still holding out hope he can make it back if they make the playoffs. But Id say they have a much better chance than Senga of making it to October. Despite past disappointments, and the presence of the Braves in the race, they are keeping the faith. Im very confident in this group, Pete Alonso said before the game. The talent, the chemistry and the way weve been trending all signs point to us making it. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reacts after scraping his nose on the dirt as he cant come up with an infield RBI single by Oakland Athletics left fielder Miguel Andujar in the sixth inning at Citi Field on August 13, 2024. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST It feels like the Diamondbacks and Padres are separating themselves and will take the first two Wild Card spots. , and then a trio of teams behind them. The Cardinals, Giants and Cubs all still have some shot, which should please commi sioner Rob Manfred and the powers who expanded the playoffs. But ultimately, the Cardinals look like a cla sic .500 team, the pitching strong Giants look like half an excellent team and the Cubs seem more about their future than present. From here, the Braves still look like the team the Mets need to beat for that final, coveted spot. Its always the Braves, isnt it? Paul Molitor Jersey