For the first time in their last seven games, the Mets scored more than two runs, and it turns out that it’s a lot easier to win a baseball game when that happens. A relative explosion of offense saw the team win 4-2 in their series finale against the Reds tonight at Citi Field, a win that snapped a five-game losing streak that might’ve felt even longer if the Mets hadn’t already lost twelve in a row earlier this season.
Juan Soto opened the scoring with a solo home run that he lofted and hooked a little
bit inside the right field foul pole. He went on to have a 2-for-3 night with a walk, and whatever is occasionally ailing his right wrist when he swings and misses lately doesn’t seem to be having much of an effect on his performance when he makes contact.
In the bottom of the second, Mets designated hitter Eric Wagaman—a phrase you certainly wouldn’t have expected to hear when the season began—hit a solo shot that was much more of the no-doubt variety. It was his first hit as a Met, having joined the organization on a waiver claim from the Twins in late April, and he hit it 110.1 miles per hour to left field.
The Reds got on the board in the top of the third with an unearned run off Jonah Tong, who worked as the bulk guy after Huascar Brazobán made another successful appearance as an opener. Tong himself committed the error that allowed Elly De La Cruz to reach first base to start the inning, and he eventually came around to score on a two-out single by Nathaniel Lowe.
Tong was neither efficient nor dominant, but he did manage to keep the Mets in front through his three-and-two-thirds innings work. He walked four and only struck out one batter, gave up three hits, and threw 76 pitches. But his first two major league appearances this year have been encouraging.
Speaking of rookies, Carson Benge had himself a big night, as he went 2-for-4 with an impressive pair of RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings, respectively. The one in the fifth that plated the Mets’ third run of the night turned out to be the difference maker.
Tobias Myers got into a quick jam in the top of the sixth, giving up leadoff double and a one-out single to put runners on the corners before Carlos Mendoza gave him the hook. Brooks Raley loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch and got the second out of the inning before an infield single to third base allowed the Reds to score to get back within one run.
Raley and Luke Weaver wound up recording four outs apiece to get the Mets to the top of the ninth with their lead—which had grown by a run with Benge’s seventh-inning single—intact. And Devin Williams tried his best to lets the Reds score, issuing back-to-back walks to begin the ninth before getting a strikeout and issuing a third walk to load the bases. Fortunately, he struck out the next two batters he faced, earning one of the most laborious saves you’ll ever see.
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