Final Score: Reds 3, Mets 2—Clinging to life

With the Mets basically needing to win every game, they dropped a tough game tonight in Cincinnati. Familiar Mets foe Christian Colon ripped a game-winning single for the Reds against Seth Lugo in the 8th inning to down the Mets as they cling to their slim playoff hopes.

The Mets fell behind early in the game when Zack Wheeler struggled in the first, but also was not helped out by his defense. With two on and no out, Todd Frazier booted an easy double play ball, and later in the inning, he didn’t throw to first quickly enough on a ground ball he thought was foul, but it was not. That opened the door for the Reds to push two runs across in the inning, with only one of them being earned.

The Mets fought back to tie it later in the game, scoring their first run in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Wheeler and then tying the game in the 5th when Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. But the Mets left the bases loaded in that inning, and didn’t muster much offensively for the rest of the game.

Wheeler settled down after the first and delivered seven terrific innings, and held the Reds at two. Justin Wilson was shaky to start the 8th inning, and Lugo came in relief of him but couldn’t get out of the jam, giving up the game-winning hit to Colon. The Mets drop to 4.0 games out of the wild card, with a chance to fall back to 4.5 games if the Brewers win tonight.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. MetsFan4Decades: 87
2. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 71
3. Knurk: 68
4. deegie: 51
5. MookieTheCat: 46
6. doctor prancer: 36
7. Cgt325: 29
8. NothingButMet: 29
9. LouMonte7: 21
10. amazins8669: 17