The Cincinnati Reds failed to complete a 3-game sweep of the New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon. New York would score first and never trailed as they pummeled the home team 9-1 in the series finale at Great American Ball Park.
Nick Lodolo had to work around some baserunners in each of the first two innings but was able to get a double play in each to keep New York off the scoreboard. That wasn’t the case in the top of the 3rd inning. Luis Torrens had an infield hit on a weak chopper to third base and then the Mets put together a 2-out rally that began with a walk by Bo Bichette. A looping single to center from Juan Soto brought in a run, then back-to-back singles into left field plated a run each as the score jumped to 3-0.
Cincinnati would get men on and threaten in their own half of the inning. Jose Trevino reached on an error when Mark Vientos flat out missed the throw from shortstop that otherwise would have beat Trevino by 5+ feet. Matt McLain followed up with a low liner into left that Juan Soto came up short on and it got by him for a double. Edwin Arroyo was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. JJ Bleday followed up with a line drive into center, but A.J. Ewing made a diving catch to rob him of a hit. It was enough to bring in Trevino from third for the Reds first run of the day.
After a 1-2-3 top of the 4th inning, Nick Lodolo returned to the mound in the 5th and after getting a groundout things spiraled out of control. He gave up three straight singles to load the bases. A sacrifice fly followed to make it 4-1. Another single came to bring in a run and then A.J. Ewing doubled off of the wall in left-center to bring in two more as the Mets pushed the lead to 7-1. That ended the day for Lodolo as Chris Paddack came in from the bullpen. He needed just one pitch to get the final out of the inning.
In the 6th and 7th innings Paddack tossed shutout innings. He returned for the 8th and that’s when New York got to him as they strung together a triple, RBI single, and RBI double to plate two more runs and take a 9-1 lead. Cincinnati would get runners on in both the 8th and 9th innings but were unable to bring anyone across as they fell to the Mets in the series finale.
Key Moment of the Game
The 4-run 5th inning by the Mets that turned a close game into a blowout.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds went 0-6 with runners in scoring position. The Mets went 7-13 with runners in scoring position.
Chris Paddack allowed two runs in 4.1 innings of relief of Nick Lodolo.
Matt McLain was the only Reds hitter to reach base safely more than one time in the game. He had a double and a walk. His double was his 7th extra-base hit of the month, which is already tied for the most in a month this season. He’s hitting .256/.396/.558 in 14 games in June.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs New York Yankees
Friday June 19th, 7:05pm ET
Rhett Lowder (3-3, 4.60 ERA) vs TBA