ATLANTA (AP) -- Lucas Duda hit a two-run homer, Zack Wheeler pitched six scoreless innings and the New York Mets beat the struggling Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Friday night but were eliminated from playoff contention.

Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches
Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches ( Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Atlanta, which dropped seven games behind Pittsburgh in the NL wild-card race, can be eliminated with any combination of three Pirates wins or Braves losses.

The Mets were knocked out when Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee earlier Friday.

The Braves, losers in six of seven, dropped to 4-12 this month. They won the NL East last year, but were eliminated from the division race on Tuesday when Washington celebrated at Turner Field.

Wheeler (11-10) allowed five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. The Georgia native improved to 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA in 13 road starts, dating to May 29.

Wheeler worked out of a jam in the fifth inning. He gave up a two-out double to Andrelton Simmons and walked Freddie Freeman before striking out Justin Upton with a pitch in the dirt.

Daniel Murphy went 4 for 5 and scored on Duda's homer in the sixth. Murphy was hitting just .188 in 32 at-bats since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 9.

Julio Teheran (13-13) pitched out of trouble in the fifth when Dilson Herrera popped up with runners on first and third, and Wheeler struck out.

After Murphy's ground-rule double in the sixth, Duda hit a low breaking ball into the right-field seats for his 28th homer, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Duda had struck out in his previous two at-bats.

Teheran gave up seven hits, two runs and struck out six in seven innings. He dropped to 0-4 with a 2.67 ERA in September.

Carlos Torres pitched the seventh, Jeurys Familia the eighth and Buddy Carlyle the ninth for New York.

In the ninth, Dilson Herrera drew a bases-loaded walk from Jordan Walden to make it 3-0, and Eric Young Jr. added a two-run single off Luis Avilan for a 5-0 lead.

The Braves dropped to 8-50 when they score two runs or fewer.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Manager Terry Collins said CF Juan Lagares, sidelined by a hyperextended right elbow since Wednesday, will be reevaluated early next week and might be able to return for the season-ending series against Houston next weekend. OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis didn't play because of a kidney stone.

Braves: RF Jason Heyward wore a brace on his bruised left thumb and didn't play. Heyward, who was hit by a pitch on Wednesday, has received treatment for two days. X-rays taken on his hand were negative. ... Catcher Evan Gattis missed his 10th straight game as he recovers from strep throat and a kidney stone.

UP NEXT

Mets: LHP Jonathon Niese (8-11) starts Saturday for the Mets. He is 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA in five career starts at Turner Field.

Braves: LHP Mike Minor (6-11) is 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 career starts against New York.

BACK IN THE BIGS

Wally Backman joined New York's coaching staff Friday for the last nine games after managing his second straight season at Triple-A Las Vegas. A Mets infielder from 1980-88, Backman hopes to return to the majors next year either as a manager or coach.

"I think that's why players play and coaches coach," he said.

Backman was hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2004, but was fired four days later after reports surfaced of legal and financial problems.

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