Mets 4 - 3 Reds
Final
  for this game

Mets hold off Reds in rubber match

Sep 7, 2014 - 11:44 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Recker and Curtis Granderson both homered and the New York Mets held off the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday.

Granderson finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Kirk Nieuwenhuis supplied two hits for the Mets, who have won six of their last nine games against the Reds.

Starter Zack Wheeler (10-9) earned the win after allowing just a run on five hits with six strikeouts over six solid innings. Wheeler is now 7-1 in his last 13 starts.

"I felt a lot more comfortable with my mechanics," said Wheeler. "I'm still feeling good."

Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick each drove in a run and Jay Bruce homered for Cincinnati, which has lost five of its last six games. Mat Latos (5-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits across six frames.

"We just couldn't pull it out," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's unfortunate the way that game ended up."

Schumaker's leadoff single to center in the fourth gave the Reds their first hit of the day. Todd Frazier was hit by a pitch and Devin Mesoraco walked to load the bases. Brandon Phillips hit into a double play that got Schumaker out at home and Jay Bruce grounded out to first to end the frame.

The Reds, however, did get on the board in the fifth. Latos and Billy Hamilton both singled before Schumaker hit an RBI single and moved to second on Juan Lagares' throwing error.

New York countered in the sixth. Wilmer Flores reached second on Hamilton's fielding error with one out and came home on Granderson's sharp liner to right. Two batters later, Recker made it a 3-1 game with his sixth home run of the season.

Granderson opened the eighth with a solo shot to right for a 4-1 cushion.

Cincinnati made things interesting in the ninth. Bruce hit a leadoff homer off Jenrry Mejia to start the frame. Jack Hannahan followed with a ground-rule double to left center. Two batters later, Ludwick hit an RBI single to right, getting the Reds within a run.

Hamilton walked and Frazier was safe on a close play at first two batters later to load the bases. Mejia recovered to strike out Mesoraco to escape the jam with his 24th save of the season.

Game Notes

Mejia now has six saves in his last six appearances ... Lagares extended his hitting streak to seven games ... The Mets are now 23-15 all-time at Great American Ball Park ... New York won the season series, 4-2.






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