Mets 3 Reds 2
Quick cap: Hunter Greene fired six innings of overpowering, one run baseball. But 7th inning wildness by Fernando Cruz plus an Elly De La Cruz fielding error produced a Mets run and broke a 1-1 tie. The Reds stranded a small village on the bases, going 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Go-ahead: 1-1 tie in 7th, Cruz walked the bases loaded. Pete Alonso chopped a bouncer up the middle that Elly fielded but could not get out of his glove for a run producing error and a 2-1 Mets lead. PS…I continue to believe Elly’s glove is too big for the position of SS.
Big add-on: Jeff McNeil’s solo blast of Emilio Pagan made it 3-1 in the 8th. That proved big.
Last chance: Trailing 3-1 in the 9th, India reached on an infield single off Edwin Diaz. Spencer Steer walked. With runners on 2nd/3rd with one out, Candelario lifted a sac fly to make it 3-2. A wild pitch moved pinch-runner Bubba Thomson to 3rd w/ 2 outs. But Jake Fraley struck out to end it.
Denied: Down 2-1 in 7th, Reds loaded bases w/ India BB, Jeimer Candelario 2B, PH Tyler Stephenson BB. But Elly struck out looking, taking all four pitches in an at-bat he just gave away.
Notes:
RISP: 0 for 11 with 12 left on base
7 H + 6 BB = 2 R
Spencer Steer HR as 2nd batter of the game
Jonathan India: 3 H
Elly’s 2B…. hit streak at 12
Reds: 18 2B, 3 3B…most combined first 7 games since 1976. (Per Apple)
Will Benson: BB vs LHP after fell behind 0-2. Ended Quintana’s night in 6th
Hunter Greene: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 6 K, 1 BB. 99 pitches/71 strikes. 1st two innings: 36 pitches, 30 strikes….3 K. Nine pitch 4th.
Issued first BB to open 5th….1B, hit No. 9 batter to load w/ 1 out and SF tied it. Started 6th at 88 pitches.
How they scored:
1st: Steer HR, 1-0
9th: Candelario SF, 3-2
Attendance: 16,620 on a rough weather night.
Of note: Ken Griffey Jr. in three different commercials during the Apple TV broadcast.
Down on the Farm: Dayton. Rhett Lowder, in his pro debut, 4 IN, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K…65 pitches/45 strikes.