Edwin Diaz Escapes Ninth Inning Jam As The Fast Starting Mets Hung On For A Win

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

With the final National League Wild Card spot on the line, the New York Mets made their annual trip to Great American Ball Park.

Edwin Diaz pitched out of a bases loaded, no out jam to allow the New York Mets to extend their lead to six games with a 5-4 win over the fading Reds.

The Reds dropped below .500 at 70-71 for the first time since June 7 when they were 32-33.

Ke'Bryan Hayes singled to start the ninth inning. Matt McLain and TJ Friedl walked to load the bases. Diaz broke a spike and had to change shoes. He struck out Noelvi Marte swinging through a 3-2 pitch and Elly De La Cruz looking at a 2-2 pitch. Gavin Lux hit one past Pete Alonso at first. Luisangel Acuna fielded going to the hole and threw to Diaz to end the game.

"We gave ourselves a chance but we couldn't get over the hump," Terry Francona said. 

The Mets roughed up Reds' starter Andrew Abbott in the first inning. Francisco Lindor worked a walk from Abbott to open the game. Juan Soto hit a ground single to right that sent Lindor to third.  Abbott struck out Pete Alonso but Mark Vientos topped a ball down the third base line that stopped in fair territory allowing Lindor to score. Soto stole third base. Brandon Nimmo hit a ball over the wall in left center but TJ Friedl leaped, reached above to fence and caught the ball. Soto scored after the catch. Starling Marte dropped a single into shallow left field to score Vientos.

David Peterson allowed a first inning single to Elly De La Cruz but kept the Reds off the scoreboard through two innings.

Vientos hit his 16th home run of the season, leading off the third inning against Abbott.

The Reds got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Matt McLain singled to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Friedl doubled him to third. Noelvi Marte lined out to right. McLain scored after the catch.

Abbott got the first two outs in the fourth but Lindor and Soto hit back-to-back doubles to send their lead back to four runs.

The Reds got close against Peterson in the bottom of the fourth. Austin Hays and Spencer Steer singled. Tyler Stephenson doubled to the corner in left field. Hays scored easily. Steer was able to slide underneath the tag by Francisco Alvarez. Stephenson, who returned from the injured list afte missing 16 games, took third on the throw home. Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a line drive the Nimmo caught with a dive. Stephenson scored to make it, 5-4.

Abbott gave up two singles in the fifth inning. Connor Phillips came in to get Alvarez to fly out to right.

Abbott pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hit, a walk and a hit batter.

Phillips walked Lindor and Soto with one out but got Alonso to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Phillips, Nick Martinez and  Emilio Pagan shut down the Mets for the last 4 1/3 innings.