Mets' ninth-inning rally falls short, drop series with disappointing 3-2 loss to Reds

The Mets lost to the Reds 3-2 on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati, managing only two hits, both solo home runs, dropping the rubber game of the series. 

Brandon Sproat took the loss in his major league debut, despite pitching a strong six innings.

Here are some takeaways…

– After being held to one hit over seven innings by Hunter Greene, the Mets made some noise in the ninth inning before losing. Juan Soto hit a solo home run off reliever Tony Santillan to cut the Reds’ lead to 3-2, extending his streak of games of reaching base to 16. It was Soto’s 38th home run of the season. 

After a throwing error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz allowed Pete Alonso to reach first, Brandon Nimmo singled to left, putting runners at first and second with one out. Starling Marte then got jammed on a fastball, and his broken-bat ground ball to short turned into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Mets were bidding to win a game when trailing after eight innings for the first time this season. 

– Despite taking the loss, Sproat made a strong start in his major league debut, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning while showing off an impressive arsenal of pitchers, mixing his 97-mph fastball with three different breaking balls — slider, sweeper, and curve ball at a variety of speeds. 

All in all, Sproat went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while racking up seven strikeouts and allowing four walks.

Sproat gave his first run in the fourth inning without allowing a hit, as Noelvi Marte walked, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ sacrifice fly. 

With one out in the sixth, Sproat gave up his first hit on a good pitch, as he jammed Marte with a 96 mph fastball yet that turned into a broken-bat blooper to right field. Sproat then paid for leaving a curve ball in the strike zone, as De La Cruz drove it to the wall in right-center for an RBI double. 

Sproat then made another mistake, hanging a change-up that Austin Hayes hit past Brett Baty for an RBI single. 

The rookie right-hander finished strong, striking out Gavin Lux with a 79-mph curve ball and Sal Stewart looking on a 96-mph fastball.

– Greene overmatched the Mets, allowing just one hit, a Baty home run, over seven innings while striking out 12 and allowing two walks. Greene, one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball, mostly overpowered the Mets with his fastball, regularly reaching 100 mph — the only hit he allowed came on a hanging slider. 

The Reds’ right-hander finished strong in the seventh, striking out Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, and Jeff McNeil on fastballs, the last one at 101 mph that got McNeil looking. 

– Reed Garrett returned from the IL on Sunday, pitching a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Sproat, allowing one hit and recording one strikeout. Garrett’s return is much-needed in a bullpen that has had few good late-inning options lately. 

– Cedric Mullins continues to be a disappointment since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline. He went 0-for-2 Sunday, stretching his current hitless streak to 0-for-24, and is hitting just .184 with the Mets. Carlos Mendoza used Mark Vientos to pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning.

Game MVP: Hunter Greene

The Reds’ ace was on his game, showing his potential to be one of the top starters in the majors. In his fifth start since returning from a groin injury, he racked up 12 strikeouts, while lowering his ERA to 2.69. Greene also had a whopping total of 21 swings and misses. 

Highlights

What's next

The Mets head to Philadelphia to conclude this huge seven-game road trip.

Nolan McLean takes the mound in the opener against Aaron Nola on Monday at 7:10 p.m.

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