Mets vs Reds recap: That’s called a winning streak

Before Friday night, the Mets had not won three consecutive games since July 20-22, which was a part of a four-game winning streak. Nearly two months later, the Mets have finally achieved another three-game winning streak after knocking off the Reds in the series opener by a score of 5-1.

The offense got started in the second inning, when Travis Taijeron blasted his first major league home run, a solo shot, into the right field seats to put the Mets up 1-0. Jose Reyes hit a solo homer in the bottom of the third, and then hit a two-run shot in the fifth. Those were his 11th and 12th home runs of the season, and they put the Mets up 4-0. The Mets added another run in the sixth on a throwing error by Scooter Gennett, who made an ill-advised throw to the plate on a ground ball with the bases loaded, though the Mets would strand the other runners on base in that inning, and would not score again.

On the mound, Seth Lugo delivered arguably his best performance of the season. He fired six shutout innings and struck out four on the night. He allowed five baserunners four hits and one walk, and his only major trouble came in the fourth inning. A single, a walk, and another single loaded the bases with only one out for the Reds, but Lugo escaped the jam by striking out Eugenio Suarez and getting some help on a sterling short-hop pickup by Gavin Cecchini for the final out of the inning.

Tommy Milone came on in relief of Lugo to pitch a scoreless seventh, and Paul Sewald and Jerry Blevins got through the eighth unscathed. Blevins started the ninth, but worked his way into trouble with only one out, and so A.J. Ramos came on in what had become a save situation to put out the fire. The Reds would score a run on a sacrifice fly, but Ramos induced a lazy fly ball to end the game.

While wins and losses don’t matter much to the Mets at this point in the season, it’s encouraging to see their young players continue to grow and develop, as the team looks to build towards next year. Lugo having a good start builds his case for a rotation spot next year, and Travis d’Arnaud ripped a double as he continues to try to prove that his bat can play in the major leagues. In addition, Brandon Nimmo reached base two more times, Cecchini had that nice play and also drew a walk, and Dominic Smith also reached base twice, despite striking out two times as well. It’s all about looking forward at this point.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big winners: Seth Lugo, +28.8% WPA, Jose Reyes +20.6% WPA, Travis Taijeron, +11.5% WPA
Big losers: Gavin Cecchini, -7.6% WPA, Juan Lagares, -4.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Jose Reyes hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning
Teh sux0rest play: Scooter Gennett singled in the fourth inning to load the bases.
Total pitcher WPA: 31.7% WPA
Total batter WPA: 18.3% WPA
GWRBI!: Travis Taijeron