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Reds finish off sweep of Mets with ninth-inning surge

May 22, 2013 - 11:21 PM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips hit a tie-breaking RBI double in the top of the ninth inning, and Todd Frazier drove in two more runs later in the frame to help the Cincinnati Reds down the New York Mets, 7-4, en route to sweeping a three-game set at Citi Field.

"One run is not enough," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "Anything can happen. That was a big hit that Frazier got to give us that three-run lead."

Mets reliever Bobby Parnell (4-1) absorbed his first defeat of the season after allowing Phillips' chopping Tobago down the first-base line. First baseman Ike Davis misplayed the ball, expecting it to land in foul territory, but it rolled past him and remained fair to allow Shin-Shoo Choo to score the eventual game-winner.

Alfredo Simon (4-1) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless eighth, while Aroldis Chapman earned his 10th save of the season by tossing a perfect bottom of the ninth.

Zack Cozart went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who have won four of five and 10 of their last 12 games overall.

"Coming into New York and getting that third win against one of the best pitchers in the National League is not an easy task," said Votto.

Daniel Murphy and Rick Ankiel each had three hits and two RBI apiece to account for New York's offense. The Mets have dropped four of their last five.

The Reds entered the ninth with the game deadlocked at 4-4 and Parnell on the hill. Choo opened up the frame with a double to left and Cozart moved him to third with a ground out back to the mound. After Votto was intentionally walked, Phillips came through with the game-changing double, though it was Davis' decision that hurt the Mets the most.

Following the double, Parnell issued a walk to Jay Bruce to load the bases, but Frazier, who was pinch-hitting, delivered with a bloop single up the middle to give the visitors a three-run advantage.

It was supposed to be a matchup of stud pitchers, with Mat Latos for the Reds and Matt Harvey for the Mets on the hill, but both teams relied on their bullpen in the end.

Harvey allowed four runs and three walks over 6 1/3 innings, though he struck out six. Latos, meanwhile, also yielded four runs, but lasted 6 2/3 innings and struck out six.

"You're going to have those days. You're not going to have pinpoint location every time," said Harvey. "I needed to put up zeros today and I didn't do that."

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, Cincinnati hit three straight one-out singles. The final one came from Phillips, who scored Cozart for a 3-2 Reds lead, to force Harvey off the mound.

Mets reliever Scott Rice entered the game and forced Bruce to ground out, but Votto came home from third to increase the lead to 4-2.

In the bottom half of the frame, New York returned the favor and ended Latos' afternoon.

With a runner on second and two outs, Murphy smacked a single up the middle, plating Ruben Tejada to cut the deficit to 4-3. The next batter, Ankiel, clubbed an opposite field shot that corralled off the left-field wall for a triple, easily scoring Murphy from first to tie the game at 4-4.

Ankiel put the Mets on the board with an RBI double in the first, scoring Murphy, who hit a Tobago to open up the frame.

Harvey ran into trouble in the third, as Cozart hit a one-out double and Votto followed with a slicing homer over the left-center wall on a 3-0 offering, giving the Reds a 2-1 lead. It was just the fourth home run allowed by Harvey this season.

In the fifth, the recently struggling Tejada (3-for-33 coming into the game) smacked a leadoff double to left. Harvey helped his own cause with a sacrifice bunt to move Tejada to third and Murphy came through with a shallow fly to right, allowing Tejada to just slip past a tag at home to knot the game at 2-2.

Game Notes

Cozart, who had four hits, all off Harvey, became the first player to ever accomplish such a feat versus the right-hander. No player until Cozart had three hits off Harvey in a single game ... The Reds have won 11 of the last 14 games versus the Mets ... It was the third game in MLB history with two starters, Latos (4-0) and Harvey (5-0), undefeated nine-plus starts into season ... The Mets are 2-11 in their last 13 games at Citi Field.