Reds Drop Game To Mets

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The one phase of the game the Reds have done consistently well let them down in a 4-3 loss to the Mets.

The Reds began the day with a major league-low 62 errors. But center fielder Billy Hamilton dropped a fly ball in New York's three-run sixth, and first baseman Jack Hannahan flubbed Granderson's foul popup in the eighth. Curtis Granderson then hit a solo shot for his 18th homer.

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"It was unfortunate," Reds' manager Bryan Price said. "We pretty much handed them their runs. It was plays they make 99.9 percent out of 100. It happens but it stinks when it does."

Anthony Recker homered in the sixth to cap the three-run sixth,

The Mets jumped on Latos (5-5) after Hamilton dropped Wilmer Flores' fly ball on the warning track for a two-base error with one out in the sixth. Granderson followed with a tying RBI single.

"Billy dropped one but look at all the plays he's made," said Latos. "I could have pitched better. You can't leave the ball down the middle to Recker."

After Dilson Herrera fouled out, Recker hit a drive off the facade of the second deck in left field for his sixth homer. Of Recker's 13 career home runs, 10 either have tied the game or given his team the lead, including five this season.

"I had to pitch better," Latos said. "You can't leave the ball down the middle to Recker."

Hamilton has been a pleasant surprise for the Reds on defense in just his second year after being converted to centerfield from shortstop.

"It was one of the balls I thought was hit softer than it was," Hamilton said. "I took one little peek at the wall and that's what did it, no excuses. It was my fault. Latos got behind on Recker. It's frustrating. He should have been out of the inning.

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Zach Wheeler (10-9) pitched six solid innings, improving to 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA over his last 13 starts. The right-hander allowed one run and five hits, struck out six

New York carried a 4-1 lead into the ninth, but Jay Bruce hit his 16th homer and Ryan Ludwick added an RBI single to get Cincinnati within one. The Reds had the bases loaded with two out when Jenrry Mejia struck out Devin Mesoraco for his 24th save, closing out a 4-2 road trip for the Mets.

"It was a great effort in the ninth against a good pitcher," Price said of the Reds' 35th one-run loss of the season. They are a season low nine games below .500

Latos struck out five in six innings for Cincinnati. He allowed three runs and seven hits.

Latos helped himself with a two-out single in the fifth. He came around to score on Schumaker's base hit.

TRAVELING MAN
 
Wheeler improved to 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA over his last 12 road starts. He has allowed one earned run or less in eight of those starts.

TARNISHED GOLD

Mets CF Juan Lagares committed just his third error of the season in 107 games. Hamilton committed just his second in 137 games.

STILL GOLD

Brandon Phillips has turned in 99 consecutive games without an error. It is a career-high. He made his last error against the Mets on April 5th in New York.

HITLESS IN CINCINNATI

Coming into the game the Reds are last in the National League in batting average (.222), runs (156), hits (349), slugging percentage (.330) and on-base percentage (.276)

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Rookie C Travis d'Arnaud got the day off.

Reds: Todd Frazier's start on Sunday was his 19th straight since missing three games Aug. 15-17 with lower back problems. An All-Star third baseman, he had started eight of those games at first base.

UP NEXT

Mets: LHP Jonathon Niese (8-10) tries for his first win over Colorado since May 12, 2011, when the Mets open a nine-game homestand Monday with the first of three against the Rockies.

Reds: RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-1) makes his first career appearance against St. Louis as the Reds and Cardinals open a four-game series.