
Dateline: Cincinnati
The New York Mets pounded out 15 hits to route the Reds 9-1 to salvage the final game of the series.
The Reds won the first two by holding the Mets offense when they had runners on.
Bo Bichette, Juan Soto and Francisco Alvarez had three hits, each.
The Mets stranded 22 men on base in the first two games of the series. They didn't knock the cover off the ball but they made enough contact to plate three runs in the third inning against Nick Lodolo. In this game the still left eight on base giving them 30 for the series. They were 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Luis Torrens topped a ball down the third base line against Nick Lodolo. A charging Sal Stewart did not have a play. Zack Short bunted to move Torrens to second. Carson Benge grounded out to Matt McLain at short. Torrens decided to try for third base but Stewart didn't handle the thrown cleanly. The throw beat him and it would have ended the inning. Bo Bichette walked. Juan Soto, Marcus Semien and Mark Vientos singled to put the Mets ahead 3-0.
"The third inning was big in a number of ways," Francona said. "We don't finish that play at third. We don't execute. It cost us three runs. It cost us 19 or 20 pitches. I think that definitely wore on him (Lodolo) a little bit. I don't think his fastball had the same finish after that."
Nolan McLean retired the first seven Reds' hitters. Jose Trevino hit a high chop that backed Short to the outfield grass. His through probably should have been handled by Vientos but Trevino got credit for a hit. It was later changed to an error. Matt McLain hit a sinking line drive to left that got past Soto for a double. Edwin Arroyo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. JJ Bleday hit a line drive to center, Springboro High School grad saved two runs with a diving catch but Trevino scored while the other runners held. Sal Stewart forced McLain at third.
"That's where I was goin the same with the three. They scored three, we have one. If that kid, doesn't make that play. I know you look at the scoreboard but that was a big turning point for them."
The same trio of Mets singled with one out in the fifth to load the bases. Bichette scored on a sacrifice fly to right. Francisco Alvarez' second hit of the game scored Soto. Ewing doubled home to runs, his first hit of the series. It ended Lodolo's outing.
The Reds scored seven runs against McLean on May 25th but managed only an unearned run on three hits against him over seven innings.
"I think we saw the better version," Francona said. "Every one sees the velocity because that's there. Last time it was out of the zone enough. It was good today.
"They had nine or ten singles, they all count," Lodolo said. "I have to stop it. Obviously, I like the swing and miss. I wasn't getting a lot of swing and miss there. I have to make my execution of pitches. Some were hit hard, some weren't. We talked about this. I've got to get better. It starts with location. When you're going through an outing like this, you're always hunting swing and miss. To pitch deep in the game, I have to do things like get ahead. Then you're on the attack the whole time, you're going to do that. That's something I haven't done a great job of."
Chis Paddack took over for Lodolo. Torrens lined out to Arroyo.
Paddack finished the game to save the bullpen. He allowed two token runs in the eighth inning.

