Andrew Abbott only lasted 3.2 innings on the day, but exited with the Reds holding a 3-2 lead. Cincinnati’s bullpen kept the score right there the rest of the way as the Mets couldn’t come through with another run. The Reds 3-2 win in New York moved them to 78-72 on the year.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (78-72) |
3 | 9 | 0 |
| New York Mets (68-80) |
2 | 8 | 2 |
| W: Duarte (3-0) L: Megill (8-8) SV: Law (2) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
After the Reds went down in order in the top of the 1st, the Mets got to work in their half of the inning. Pete Alonso picked up a 2-out walk and then back-to-back singles brought him around the bases to put New York up 1-0.
The lead didn’t last long. TJ Friedl led off the top of the 2nd and he moved over to third base on a 2-out single by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Cincinnati tied the game up when they once again tried a steal of second to entice a throw with a runner on third, but catcher Francisco Alvarez came up firing to third base instead of second. He threw the ball into the outfield, though, and Friedl trotted in to make it 1-1.
Both teams would threaten in the 3rd, but Cincinnati stranded two in the top half and New York stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half as the game remained tied up. The Reds grabbed the lead after Joey Votto walked in the 4th and scored when Christian Encarnacion-Strand ran into a 95 MPH fastball and sent it into the seats in center.
Andrew Abbott returned for the 4th inning and struck out DJ Stewart to begin the inning, but gave up a 1-out double to Tim Locastro. After getting Brandon Nimmo to fly out, Abbott got squeezed on what looked like strike three to Francisco Alvarez on the 4th pitch of the at-bat. The next pitch was slugged into left field for an RBI double to cut the Reds lead to 3-2. It was the final batter for Abbott as the call went to the bullpen for Daniel Duarte. He came in to face Pete Alonso and struck him out to end the inning.
Cincinnati got three singles in the top of the 5th inning to load the bases with one out but they couldn’t cash in. Tyler Stephenson hit a perfect grounder to Francisco Lindor at shortstop and the Mets turned it into an inning-ending double play.
After Daniel Duarte threw a shutout 5th, he gave way to Sam Moll in the 6th. He threw a perfect inning. Fernando Cruz did the same thing in the 7th. The Reds were able to load the bases in the top of the 8th inning, but they didn’t cash in. Cruz returned to the mound and threw another perfect inning.
Still holding onto a 3-2 lead, Cincinnati sent Derek Law out to the mound for the bottom of the 9th. He’s get a pop up to start the inning. The Mets called on Daniel Vogelbach to pinch hit for Tim Locastro and Vogelbach came through with a single. He was then pinch-run for. Brandon Nimmo followed up with a fly out to center. Francisco Alvarez came through with a 2-out single to put runners on first and second for Pete Alonso. The two battled for seven pitches, but Law won on the final pitch as he induced a grounder that Nick Senzel fielded and fired to second base for a force out to end the game. The victory guarantees the Reds a series win and keeps them in the 3rd wild card spot.
Key Moment of the Game
Derek Law getting Pete Alonso to ground out to end the game with the tying and winning runs on base.
Notes worth noting
Four of the starting position players did not finish the game, being subbed out for a pinch runner or pinch hitter at some point in the contest.
TJ Friedl picked up two hits as he continues to kill it in September. He’s hitting .326/.444/.698 on the month.
Derek Law started a game on Thursday and picked up a save on Saturday. That’s just good old fashioned fun.
In his last 21 games, Fernando Cruz has a 2.53 ERA with a WHIP of 0.89, just seven walks, and he’s struck out 35 batters in 21.1 innings.
Daniel Duarte has a 2.57 ERA since the beginning of August (14.0 innings).
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs New York Mets
Sunday September 17th, 1:40pm ET
Brandon Williamson (4-4, 4.47 ERA) vs Jose Quintana (2-5, 3.05 ERA)
