Home runs ruled the day in New York. The Reds got a 2-run homer from Spencer Steer to grab a 3-0 lead, but Pete Alsono his a 3-run homer in the same inning to tie the game up. The next inning it was Jonathan India’s turn and he crushed a go-ahead homer that put Cincinnati ahead for good in a 5-3 win over the Mets.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (77-72) |
5 | 8 | 0 |
| New York Mets (68-79) |
3 | 5 | 2 |
| W: Sims (6-3) L: Hartwig (4-2) SV: Diaz (37) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Neither team got much going in the 1st, but Cincinnati got back-to-back singles from Hunter Renfroe and Tyler Stephenson in the 2nd to set themselves up nicely…. except that didn’t happen. A force out let to runners on the corners and then Noelvi Marte was picked off of first base before a strikeout ended the inning.
Rafael Ortega would walk to lead off the bottom of the 3rd inning, giving the Mets their first baserunner of the day. He would easily steal second base without a throw, but Hunter Greene worked around the runners with a strikeout and a fly out.
Cincinnati got a little bit of help in the top of the 5th. After Noelvi Marte led off with a single he was able to move up to third on an error that led to runners on the corners. He then scored on a wild pitch to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 6th they added on when Nick Senzel led off with a single and scored when Spencer Steer crushed his 22nd homer of the year to extend things to 3-0.
Hunter Greene had given up one hit in the game entering the 6th inning. He gave up a 1-out single and then a 2-out single that put runners on the corners. Manager David Bell headed out to the mound with Pete Alonso due up, but his stay was short and Greene remained in the game. Three pitchers to Alonso later the game was tied up as he hit a 425-foot 3-run homer. Bell returned to the mound after that to bring in Lucas Sims, who got a ground out to end the inning.
Jonathan India didn’t let the Mets feel comfortable for long. After Luke Maile was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, India took a 2-2 pitch and crushed it into the seats in left-center to put Cincinnati back in front with a 5-3 lead.
New York wasn’t about to roll over. Sims returned for the bottom of the 7th but he walked the first two batters he faced before the Reds turned things over to Ian Gibaut. Five pitchers later and Gibaut induced a double play and a ground out to end the inning and keep Cincinnati up by two.
When the bottom of the 8th inning began it was Gibaut back on the mound for the Reds. He walked Brandon Nimmo to begin the inning before striking out Francisco Lindor. DJ Stewart then followed with a single to put runners on first and second for Pete Alonso. Having seen this scenario earlier, David Bell wasted no time calling to the bullpen and he brought in Alexis Diaz. The move paid off against Alonso, as Diaz got him to hit a shallow fly ball into center for the second out of the inning. Jeff McNeil would also fly out to center as Cincinnati held onto their 5-3 lead and sent the game to the 9th inning.
Alexis Diaz took the mound for the bottom of the 9th and he began the inning with a strikeout of Ronny Mauricio. He then got Rafael Ortega to ground out to first base for the second out. Another strikeout ended the game as Cincinnati began the series with a victory.
Key Moment of the Game
Jonathan India’s go-ahead 2-run homer in the 7th inning.
Notes worth noting
Spencer Steer’s 22 home runs are the most by a rookie since Joey Votto. Only Frank Robinson is ahead of them both.
Noelvi Marte’s 3-hit night pushed his average up to .306. He was the only Red to have more than one hit in the game.
Alexis Diaz lowered his ERA to 2.10 on the season while picking up his 37th save of the year.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs New York Mets
Saturday September 16th, 7:10pm ET
Andrew Abbott (8-5, 3.64 ERA) vs Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.03 ERA)
