Reds 5 Mets 3 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets record: 68-79
Mets streak: Lost 1
WP - Lucas Sims (6-3)
LP - Grant Hartwig (4-2)
SV - Alexis Diaz (37)
Seat on the Korner:
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.
After Pete Alonso had the crowd going with a game tying blast in the 6th off Hunter Greene, Jonathan India got the lead right back with a long two run homer of his own, and the Reds wouldn't look back. India had previously struck out three times before his at-bat in the 7th.
Need to Know
David Peterson started his evening by throwing four shutout innings, but gave up an unearned run in the 5th, then two runs on a homer by Spencer Steer in the 6th. He only lasted 5 and 2/3's, but matched his season high in strikeouts with ten.
Pete Alonso's sixth inning homer off Hunter Greene was his 7th in the last 11 games.
Greene had no-hit the Mets through the first four innings until Jeff McNeil led off the 5th with a double.
Ronny Mauricio made his first career start at third base. He made an error on a tough hop which led to the first Reds run in the 5th, but in the 8th he showed off his arm on a ground ball.
Turning Point
After Alonso brought the Mets back square in the 6th, Grant Hartwig led off the 7th by hitting Luke Maile with a pitch that was way up and in. Then India, who had struck out his previous three times at the plate, did this:
It gave the Reds the lead for good.
Three Keys
Peterson is getting there ...
For a while, David Peterson was heading towards what was going to be by far his best start of the season. His first four innings, he matched Greene zero for zero in the boxscore. But his defense didn't help him out in the fifth, and it was the start of his downfall.
Another turning point ...
It wasn't the turning point, but it was set up to be that point if the Mets had held on. With runners on first and third and two outs, the Reds visited Greene on the mound, but left him in. Lucas Sims was so close to getting in the game that he was on his way out of the dugout, but leaving Greene in to see what he has in these situations was the right play.
However Pete Alonso made the decision the wrong one, as Greene got a fastball over the plate.
But Pete couldn't create a second one ...
The Reds bullpen did a fantastic job getting out of trouble. After Lucas Sims walked two in the 7th, Ian Gibaut came in and got Mark Vientos to ground into a 109 mph double play, then got Omar Narvaez out to end the inning. Then after Gibaut gave up a walk and a single in the 8th, David Bell brought in Alexis Diaz for the five out save, and his first batter was Alonso, who had tied the game off Greene in the 6th. It was such a momentous occasion that it got Alexis' brother Edwin out of the Mets clubhouse.
Diaz would get Alonso to pop out to short center, then Jeff McNeil to fly out to deep center to end the 8th inning threat. Alexis would then get the Mets 1-2-3 in the 9th to complete the five out save and get the Reds to the finish line.