Michael Harris II had three hits, including a solo home run and an RBI double, and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach shut down the visiting New York Mets as the Atlanta Braves cruised to a 5-1 win Tuesday night in the opener of a pivotal three-game series.

Marcell Ozuna added his 39th home run for Atlanta, which trails the Mets by one game in the National League playoff race with five remaining.

Schwellenbach (8-7) threw seven strong innings, giving up one run and three hits while striking out four.

ORIOLES 5, YANKEES 3 >> Baltimore clinched its second straight playoff berth, overcoming Aaron Judge’s major league-leading 56th home run to beat New York at Yankee Stadium.

The Orioles’ win combined with Minnesota’s 4-1 loss to Miami nine minutes later assured Baltimore at least an American League wild card.

Anthony Santander hit his 44th home run and Ramón Urías and Colton Cowser also went deep for Baltimore (87-80), which closed within five games of the AL East-leading Yankees (92-65) with five games left.

TIGERS 2, RAYS 1 >> Tarik Skubal allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings and Detroit took another step toward an improbable postseason appearance with a victory over visiting Tampa Bay.

Skubal (18-4), a leading candidate to win the AL Cy Young award, struck out seven while walking only one.

Wenceel Pérez hit a two-run double in the fifth off Rays starter Ryan Pepiot (8-7).

GUARDIANS 6, REDS 1 >> Lane Thomas hit a two-run homer and drove in three, Josh Naylor had a pair of RBIs and AL Central champion Cleveland clinched a first-round bye in the postseason with a home win over Cincinnati.

BLACkMON RETIRING >> Four-time All-Star Charlie Blackmon will retire at the end of the season after spending his entire 14-year major-league career with the Colorado Rockies.

The outfielder known for his bushy beard is the franchise’s all-time leader in triples (67). He’s also second in games played (1,618), runs scored (991), hits (1,797), doubles (333), extra-base hits (626) and total bases (2,942). Blackmon won an NL batting title in 2017 with a .331 average.