CINCINNATI - Bottom line...I have to be more tempered, more muted during good times. I should know better. I'm a Mets fan...pessimism is always the better choice because I'm never set up for disappointed.
Instead, I'm always braced for it. So, label me guilty for getting ahead of myself after coming out of the break with a sweep of the Mariners. The Reds made those charges stick by taking 2 of 3, the second loss an extremely painful one.
Game 100 - Reds 8, Mets 3
Not the best start for Syndergaard. Thor gets tagged for three in second to surrender a 1-0 lead and gets charged with three more in the six after Mets draw to withing 4-3.
Toxic combination...poor start and quiet offense brings three-game win streak to a close.
Game 101 - Reds 11, Mets 8
Anytime we can complement a Jake start with eight runs...call me crazy but I expect a win.
Not the case, and dare I say, some of the blood is on his hands. Robinson Cano stroked an RBI double, Wilson Ramos singled home a run and J.D. Davis lifted a sac fly in the top of the first when the Mets grabbed a 3-0 lead. However, the Reds countered with three off deGrom in the bottom of the first, keyed by Eugenio Suarez belting his league-leading 37th.
Mets grabbed a 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh when all hell broke loose. Dellin Betances, who has been ruthless against left-handers, walked four, allowed two hits and was pinned for six earned runs during the Reds' seven-run outburst that included two-run homers from Tucker Barnhart and Jesse Winker sandwiched around a three-run shot by Nick Castellanos. A bullpen that was stellar against the Mariners in the previous series simply imploded. Seth Lugo conceded the painful bomb to Winker.
G
ame 102 - Mets 6, Reds 5 (10 innings)
Brandon Nimmo led off the 10th with a single, J.D. Davis followed with a base hit and Chris Taylor broke the deadlock with an RBI base knock as the Mets salvaged the last game of the set.
Big-time props to Edwin Diaz, who threw two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory. Look below and check out his ERA, too. He's been outstanding at the back end of the pen.
Other good news was Pete Alonso snapping out of a frigid chill at the plate, going 3 for 5, including his 18th home run. Jeff McNeil, who had also cooled off with the bat, went 3 fo 6 with a homer.
