New York Mets have had their way with the Reds in the 21 seasons that Great American Ball Park has been open. The visitors from the largest metropolis in the country had a .633 winning percentage (38-22), the best among all National League teams.
The Reds were eager to change that in the first game of the three-game series opener. Scoring early, the Reds prevailed, 7-6.
The Reds started the game's scoring with a run in the first inning against Peterson starting in the place of Max Scherzer, who had neck spasms.
Nick Senzel doubled and scored on Tyler Stephenson's ground single to center.
The Reds added two more against Peterson in the second inning. Kevin Newman walked. TJ Friedl, the only left handed batter facing the lefty Peterson, singled to right with Newman advancing to third. Friedl drew to throws by Peterson before easily stealing second base. Jonathan India grounded to third to score Newman and Senzel's second hit of the game singled Friedl home.
Reds' starter Luke Weaver retired the first eight Mets batters but light hitting catcher, Franciscon Alvarez, reached the first row of the seats in right center for his second home run of the season.
It was Weaver's first win since June 12 last season when he beat Philadelphia in an Arizona uniform.
"The goal is always at least six innings," Weaver said. "I was just trying to get ahead first and foremost. I want to get to two strikes as soon as possible and make the hitter make decisions. Tonight was a bitter sweet one. We made some good executed pitches. When you have so much momentum in the game. Those little daggers don't define you but they find a way to poke at you a little bit. They made a comeback there but we get the win."
Back-to-back doubles by Luke Maile and India got the run back and knocked Peterson out of the game. Stephen Nogosek completed the inning with no further scoring.
The Reds added on in an eventful fifth inning that started with Starling Marte robbing Fairchild of an extra base hit to open the inning. Marte may have misjudged the hard hit ball but ran it down with leaping grab. Myers reached on a swinging bunt dribbler to third baseman Brett Baty. With Myers running, Newman grounded the ball up the middle. The ball appeared to hit Myers before shortstop Francisco Lindor could reach it, but second base umpire Malachi Moore ruled that Lindor missed his chance at fielding the ball and all hands were safe. Mets' manager Buck Showalter was ejected for pleading strongly with the umpires.
Friedl found the right center field gap with drive that resulted in a two-run triple. India drove in third run of the game with a fly to center field.
"Jonathan is just trying to put the ball in play," Bell said. "He had a great night. Only one hit but the runs he drove in were big runs."
The Mets hit four home runs but fell short as the Reds just put the ball in play to get key runs home.
Weaver couldn't handle Alvarez a second time. The catcher hit a 388 ft home run. It is his first career multi home run game. A more likely candidate hit the Mets third home run of the game. Pete Alonso launched his 12th home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning. Weaver walked Baty and David Bell brought Derek Law into the game.
Weaver finished with six-plus innings, allowing four runs on four hits, including the three solo home runs. He walked one and struck out two.
Marte reached on an infield single. Vogelbach walked to load the bases with no outs, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Mark Canha. Canha hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Law had the key to Alvarez, coaxing an inning ending ground out to second.
Alex Young hit Brandon Nimmo with a pitch. Francisco Lindor launched his sixth home run to cut the lead to one run in the eighth inning. Young got Jeff McNeil to fly out to right but Bell went with Lucas Sims to pitch to Alonso. Alonso walked but Baty flied to left. Marte singled to put the tying run on second base with two outs.
Alexis Diaz entered to seek a four-out save. Diaz brother Edwin was the Mets' closer but was injured in the World Baseball Classic and will miss the season. Vogelbach walked to load the bases. The Mets sent Luis Guillorme to bat for Canha. Diaz struck out on a checked swing to send the game to the ninth.
"I have a lot of confidence in Alexis Diaz, knowing that it was going to be a tough job, no question," Bell said. "The Mets are a good team. Their entire lineup is good. Every thing was working against him. He was calm and under control."
Diaz earned his seventh save in seven chances by holding the Mets in the ninth and it didn't matter if it was against the Mets or not.
"I was a little wild right there," Diaz said. "I wanted to get that first batter out. I concentrated to make sure I got the next batter out. It is the same against every team. I doesn't have anything to do with my brother being on the Mets or anything. I'm trying to get everybody out."
Sims has been in nine games since returning from a back injury and hasn't allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings but still gave way to Diaz.
"Lucas Sims gets out of that inning, nine times out of 10 but when Alexis is rested in that situation, you go to him. He has such confidence," Bell said.
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