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.