Díaz Changes Cleats, Fans Change Their Underwear, Mets Win 5-4 Thriller

Mets 5, Reds 4 (Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio )

Mets Record: 76-65

Mets Streak: W1

Mets Last 10: 6-4

WP: David Peterson (9-5)

LP: Andrew Abbott (8-6)

S: Edwin Diaz (26)

Seat On The Korner: Mark Vientos

We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.

Today's Seat On The Korner goes to Mark Vientos who continues to carve out a remarkable stretch for the Mets, and tonight he took center stage. Coming in with a scorching 17-game span featuring eight home runs, 22 RBI, and a .313/.392/.766 slashline, Vientos added both flair and a little quirk to his resume. He kicked things off with a “perverball blop”—a 55.3 mph, 2-foot roller that somehow found its way into the infield hit column, driving in Francisco Lindor. Later, he reminded everyone of his raw power with a no-doubt 16th homer of the season, a 105.3 mph blast that traveled 427 feet to center field. For his combination of clutch hitting, flair, and production, we virtually invite Mark Vientos to take his Seat on the Korner—just as Ralph Kiner would have done on WOR-Channel 9’s postgame show in the early days of the Mets.

Need To Know:

• With the win tonight the Mets (76–65) hold the last Wild Card spot, 6 games ahead of CIN. Reds (70–71) who need a series win to stay alive.

• Prior to the game, the Mets shuffled their roster, optioning Kodai Senga to Triple-A Syracuse and adding reliever Wander Suero, claimed off waivers from Atlanta, to the major league roster. Asked about Senga’s assignment, president of baseball operations David Stearns said, “I think he wants to do what’s right for the team. He believes that he can be a part of a playoff run here. He very much wants to be a part of a playoff run here.”

  
  

• The Reds took the first series of the season against the Mets 2-1 in July. If CIN takes this series, they secure the head-to-head tiebreaker.

• At Great American: Mets are 42–25 all-time at GABP. They’ve alternated wins and losses in each of their last nine games here.

• David Peterson came into the game 8–5, 3.61 ERA, 152 IP, 136 K. Coming off a rough outing vs. MIA (8 runs in 2 innings), Peterson had an uneven performance tonight as he lasted 5.1 IP vs. CIN, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. He struggled in the 4th inning, allowing 3 runs, but bounced back with a 1-2-3 5th.

  
  

  

  
  
  
  

• Andrew Abbott on the Hill: Entered the night with a reputation for being nearly untouchable at home (2.11 ERA, just 8 HR in 81 IP). But the Mets knocked him around in this one, chasing him in the 5th. Abbott’s final line: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR. He left with the Reds trailing and turned it over to Connor Phillips.

  
  

  

  
  

• Juan Soto is riding a 14-game on-base streak, hitting .388 (19-for-49) with six home runs and drawing 18 walks during that stretch.

• Brandon Nimmo: extending his hitting streak to 11 straight games, the longest current streak in the majors, batting .391 (18-for-46).

• Francisco Alvarez returned and caught the entire game despite a sprained thumb ligament and fractured pinky. In his last 7 games pre-injury: 3 HR, 9 RBI, .346 AVG.

• Power Friendly Park: GABP has a 123 HR park factor — one of MLB’s most homer-friendly venues. Mark Vientos added to the Mets total with their 194 HR, eighth-most in franchise history.

• As bad as the Mets bullpen has been it doesn't compare to the Reds Recent Woes: 36 blown leads this season, including 3 on this homestand. 18–6 when scoring 8+ runs, but they’ve lost 6 such games , which is the most in MLB.

  
  

Turning Point:

Coming off a much-needed day of rest after playing 16 straight, the Mets offense wasted no time jumping on Reds lefty Andrew Abbott in the top of the first. Francisco Lindor worked a leadoff walk and Juan Soto followed with a sharp single to right, immediately putting pressure on Cincinnati. After Pete Alonso struck out, Mark Vientos chopped a soft grounder to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes that barely left the bat—55.3 mph exit velocity, 2 feet in distance, at a launch angle of -69 degrees—but it was enough to roll into the infield hit column. Lindor scored on the play, Soto advanced to second, and the Mets’ win probability spiked to 63.4%.

Soto then showcased his aggressiveness on the bases, swiping third for his 28th steal of the season.

That hustle paid off when Brandon Nimmo sent a deep drive to center that looked like a three-run homer before TJ Friedl reached over the wall to rob him. Instead, it went into the books as a sacrifice fly, with Soto crossing the plate and Vientos tagging to second.

Two batters later, Starling Marte cashed in the extra base, lining a two-out RBI single to right to score Vientos and give the Mets a 3–0 lead.

It was an inning defined by heads-up baserunning—Soto’s steal and Vientos’ aggressive tag on Friedl’s robbery both led directly to runs—and it set the tone for the Mets’ offense after their long grind without a break.

Three Things:

Web Gem Central

Defense was the name of the game tonight, with both clubs turning in highlight-reel plays. The Mets got things started when Mark Vientos made a slick stop in the first, setting the tone early. Cincinnati answered in style when T.J. Friedl robbed Brandon Nimmo of what looked like a three-run homer. Nimmo returned the favor with a diving catch in the fourth to keep the game close. Austin Hayes made a key stop in the fifth, Spencer Steer showcased his range in the eighth, and Luisangel Acuña capped the night with a spectacular web gem. Between the two teams, it was a night full of dazzling plays, keeping runs off the board and thrilling the crowd.

Stanek,Raley,Rogers and Diaz somehow keep Cincy in the Red

The Mets’ bullpen was steady all night, giving the offense a chance to hold on after David Peterson’s 5.1 innings for the win. Ryan Stanek, Brooks Raley, and Tyler Rogers combined for 2⅔ scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out five. The real drama came in the ninth, when closer Edwin Díaz escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam. Ke’Bryan Hayes singled, and walks to Matt McLain and T.J. Friedl loaded the bases, yet Díaz weathered the storm. After a brief on-field delay due to a pitch com issue, he struck out Noelvi Marte. Following a second delay so Díaz could change his cleats, he struck out Elly De La Cruz .

He then recorded a spectacular game-ending groundout on a throw from Luisangel Acuña, who ranged far to field the ball and fire a perfect strike to Díaz who learned from earlier this season and was busting it to cover firstbase. What looked like a looming meltdown became a textbook escape, highlighting both the skill and nerves of steel in the Mets’ bullpen.