ATLANTA -- Second baseman Phil Gosselin lined a bases-loaded, two-out single into center field in the eighth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 5-3 home-opening win over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Atlanta has won its first four games of the season for the first time since 1994 when they started 7-0.

Gosselin, who was hitless in his four preceding at-bats, worked a full count against right-handed reliever Rafael Montero and hit the next pitch up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Jace Peterson and shortstop Andrelton Simmons and break a 3-3 tie. It was Gosselin's first hit and first RBIs of the season.

Montero (0-1) allowed two hits and one intentional walk in one inning, striking out three.

The winning pitcher was Jim Johnson (1-0), who struck out the side in pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Closer Jason Grilli posted his third save with a scoreless ninth inning. He worked around a leadoff walk and struck out two, including pinch-hitter Lucas Duda to end the game.

The Atlanta bullpen pitched four scoreless innings and has not allowed a run in 15 innings this season.

Neither starting pitcher was around for the decision.

Atlanta's Eric Stults retired the first nine batters he faced but could only make it through five innings. The left-hander was touched for seven hits and three earned runs in his Braves debut.

New York's Jonathon Niese pitched five innings and allowed two or more runners in four of those. He gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked two but was victimized by two errors that led to two of three runs being unearned.

The Braves opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Center fielder Cameron Maybin hit the game's second pitch over the center field wall for his first homer of the season. The other run came when right fielder Nick Markakis reached on a throwing error by shortstop Wilmer Flores, took second on a single by first baseman Freddie Freeman and scored on Jonny Gomes' liner to left.

Atlanta made it 3-0 with an unearned run in the third. Gomes coaxed a two-out walk, went to third on a double by Freeman and scored when Flores threw wildly after failing to cleanly field a grounder by catcher Christian Bethancourt.

The Mets tied the score with three runs in the fourth. Right fielder Curtis Granderson worked a leadoff walk and scored when third baseman David Wright hit a long homer to left, his first of the season. Left fielder John Mayberry Jr. followed by hitting the next pitch for a homer, his first of the season.

NOTES: A thunderstorm caused the game to start one hour and 20 minutes later than scheduled. ... Atlanta used CF Cameron Maybin as a leadoff hitter for the first time. Phil Gosselin started at second base; he was the only position player who had yet to make an appearance. ... The Mets started Michael Cuddyer at first base for the first time; he started the first three games in left field. ... The Mets said RHP Bobby Parnell (Tommy John surgery) and RHP Vic Black (shoulder) will pitch in minor league games within the next two days. ... The Braves celebrated their 50th season in Atlanta with a special pregame ceremony that included Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy and Chipper Jones. ... The Braves traded minor league OF Victor Reyes for Arizona's Competitive Balance Round B pick (No. 75 overall). The Braves now have five of the top 75 picks in the draft