New York Mets (73-66):

1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
5. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
6. Alejandro De Aza (L) CF
7. James Loney (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P

SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (12-8, 2.56 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds (57-80):

1. Jose Peraza (R) SS
2. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
3. Joey Votto (L) 1B
4. Adam Duvall (R) LF
5. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
6. Scott Schebler (L) RF
7. Tyler Holt (R) CF
8. Tucker Barnhart (S) C
9. Anthony DeSclafani (R) P

SP: Anthony DeSclafani RHP (8-2, 2.93 ERA)

Today’s game can be seen on SNY.

The New York Mets (73-66) rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Reds (57-80) by the final score of 5-3. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-reds/2016/09/06/448933?#game=448933,game_state=final,game_tab=box

Game Notes:

• Yoenis Cespedes played hero hitting the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. He finished the night 1-4.
• Curtis Granderson was 1-2 with a solo HR.
• Jose Reyes was 2-4 with a solo HR and a stolen base.
• Alejandro De Aza was 1-1 with a pinch-hit solo HR.
• Rafael Montero got the no decision as he went 4.1 innings and gave up 3 runs, on 3 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 4.
• Jeurys Familia converted his 46th save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Behind the bullpen’s 4.2 combined scoreless innings after Rafael Montero’s departure and Yoenis Cespedes go-ahead two-run homer, the Mets are still keeping the heat on both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. The Mets have also now won 13 in a row against the Cincinnati Reds dating back to 2014. And what has gotten into Curtis Granderson lately? He remained scorching hot tonight with another home run and over his last ten games he has hit four home runs with ten RBIs. 

As I have said before, this team is playing with passion and Yoenis Cespedes made sure tonight that the Mets wouldn’t leave the ballpark without anything less than a win. What a different ballclub this team is with him in the lineup. La Potencia is certainly is going to be the biggest key for the Mets down the stretch, as his play more times than not dictates the success of this team. We’ve seen him carry the Mets to the playoffs before, and we are all witnessing a sequel to his success from last season.  

The Mets will have a quick turnaround tomorrow with a early afternoon game against the Reds, but they will send Thor to the mound to try and complete the sweep. The Mets are now winners of four in a row, and there is no better starting pitcher for the Mets to have on the mound tomorrow as they continue to look to grab hold of a NL Wild Card position. 

• The Mets and Reds will play a matinee game with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 pm et. You can catch tomorrow’s game on SNY.

• Noah Syndergaard (12-8, 2.56 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Mets and oppose Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (8-2, 2.93 ERA).

The New York Mets (72-66) defeated the Cincinnati Reds (57-79) this evening by the final score of 5-0. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://m.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-reds/2016/09/05/448918?#game=448918,game_state=final,game_tab=box

Game Notes:

• Bartolo Colon kept chugging along and picked up the victory, going six scoreless innings while allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.
• Matt Reynolds went 3-4 with with a solo HR and 2 RBIs.
• Kelly Johnson was 1-4 with a solo HR.
• Wilmer Flores went 3-4 with a double but was thrown out twice trying to advance a base by Reds left fielder Adam Duvall.
• Asdrubal Cabrera went 1-1 with a pinch hit RBI single.
• Alejandro De Aza was 0-3 with a sacrifice fly.
• Jay Bruce was 0-4 with 2 strikeouts in his return to Cincinnati.

The Mets keep on rolling despite barely getting any sleep after flying into Cincinnati at 3:30 am last night. Trotting out a starting lineup missing Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets were able to manufacture five runs behind starter Bartolo Colon’s solid pitching. Winners of 12 of their last 16, the Mets are rejuvenated and are no doubt making a serious push to play meaningful games in October. It doesn’t hurt either that the Mets have won twelve games in a row against the Reds dating back to 2014. 

The Mets have finally improved their fortunes against teams under .500, as they have struggled against such teams this season. The rest of the schedule aside from one remaining series against the Nationals, is littered with teams under .500, and they obviously have the easiest remaining schedule of all the teams they are battling with in the Wild Card race. I won’t say the Mets are a bonafide lock for a Wild Card spot based on their schedule, but you have to love the way they are playing at this point in the season, and they seemed to have kicked in into high gear. 

There have been recent rumblings of Bartolo Colon wanting to return to the Mets next season, and with the way he has pitched this season I say why not? Colon has been a solid rock for this rotation all season and easily one of the reasons why the Mets are where they are today. The 43-year old right-hander improved to 13-7 this season for the Mets with a 3.22 ERA, and only sits 14 wins from breaking the record for most wins among Latin-American pitchers which is held by Dennis Martinez with 245 victories. 

• The Mets will look to keep their success against the Reds rolling tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm et. You can catch tomorrow’s game on SNY.

• Rafael Montero (0-0, 3.68 ERA) will be activated and make his second start of the season for the Mets against Reds southpaw Brandon Finnegan (8-10, 4.19 ERA).

 

New York Mets (71-66):

1. Alejandro De Aza (L) CF
2. Michael Conforto (L) LF
3. Wilmer Flores (R) 2B
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Kelly Johnson (L) 3B
6. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
7. James Loney (L) 1B
8. Matt Reynolds (R) SS
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P

SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (12-7, 3.35 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds (57-78):

1. Jose Peraza (R) CF
2. Zack Cozart (R) SS
3. Joey Votto (L) 1B
4. Adam Duvall (R) LF
5. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
6. Scott Schebler (L) RF
7. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
8. Tucker Barnhart (S) C
9. Robert Stephenson (R) P

SP: Robert Stephenson RHP (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Today’s game can be seen on SNY.