NY Mets pitcher Max Scherzer dominated the opposition while his Braves counterpart, Max Fried, was lucky to survive the early innings. 

With Scherzer in charge the Mets’ wasted opportunities weren’t so pronounced. The right-hander’s seven strong innings led a 4-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 42,925, pushing the Mets’ NL East-lead over the Braves back to 2 ½ games. 

The Mets (54-33) still have 14 games remaining against the Braves before the regular season concludes. Scherzer offered a reminder on this night of why team owner Steve Cohen was willing to give him a three-year contract worth $130 million last offseason. 

Scherzer didn’t dent until the seventh, when Austin Riley crushed a two-out homer that pulled the Braves within 2-1. The ensuing batter, Marcell Ozuna, doubled on a hanging slider before Scherzer struck out Eddie Rosario and pumped his fist in celebration. Before Riley’s homer, Scherzer had retired 12 straight batters and 20 of 21 overall in the game.

Mets infielder Luis Guillorme smashed a leadoff eighth-inning homer, and Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz combined to pitch the final two innings scoreless.

Keith Hernandez entered the field to a standing ovation Saturday and departed to handshakes and backslaps from players on the current Mets roster.

In between, the former first baseman managed to maintain his composure as he reflected on a storied Mets career that culminated Saturday with his No. 17 retired by the club.

Hernandez joined Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza and Jerry Koosman as the only Mets to have the honor bestowed upon them.

“I am absolutely humbled and proud my number will be up in the rafters for eternity,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez was joined on the field by his family, including his three daughters and brother, Gary. 

The Mets delegation included Piazza, team owner Steve Cohen, manager Buck Showalter and Hernandez’s former teammates Mookie Wilson, Tim Teufel and Ed Lynch.

Ron Darling was present in dual capacity, as a former teammate and current SNY broadcast partner. The ceremony was emceed by Mets radio voice Howie Rose. 

Steve Cohen and Showalter presented Hernandez with a mosaic portrait of himself that was made with over 6,000 Keith Hernandez baseball and Strat-o-Matic cards.

The Yankees are starting to look like Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes.

Even on a night when Nestor Cortes came up with his roughest start of the season, the Yankees used their offense and bullpen to further cement their place as the best team in the division — as well as in the  majors — in a 12-5 win over the Red Sox.

In front of a raucous sellout crowd of 36,841 at Fenway Park, the Yankees got a three-run homer from Josh Donaldson — who has gone deep in three straight games — and more solid work out of their bullpen to send Boston to its fourth consecutive loss.

The Yankees have built a season-high 15 ½-game lead in the AL East with their 61-23 start, thanks in part to a 28-12 record in the division.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but I love that we built up this lead,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve made a lot of deposits. Inevitably, we’ve got to make some withdrawals along the way.”

Cortes lasted a season-low 3 innings, while allowing four runs on eight hits to bring his ERA up to 2.74.

But the Yankees hardly felt it, as they got to Boston right-hander Connor Seabold quickly.