9/23 Game Recap: Mets Fall To Reds 3-2 in 10 Innings

Tonight at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, the Mets lost to the Reds 3-2 in 10 innings in the first game of a three game set.

Sep 23, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman

(21) tags out the New York Mets left fielder

Jr. (22) attempting to steal third base during the third inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, when Shin-Soo Choo lined a two out, run scoring single to center.  After Aaron Harang walked Brandon Phillips to load the bases, he issued a four pitch walk to Joey Votto that forced in a run and made it 2-0 Cincinnati.

The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the third and closed to within 2-1 when Lucas Duda lifted a sacrifice fly to center.  With runners on first and second and Andrew Brown at the plate, Eric Young, Jr. foolishly attempted to steal third base and was thrown out to end the frame.

The score remained 2-1 Reds until there were two outs in the top of the sixth.  Lucas Duda then stepped to the plate against Johnny Cueto and smoked a solo homer deep to right field to tie things at 2.

Both teams had chances in the eighth, but Lucas Duda grounded into a double play to end the Mets’ rally in the top of the inning, and Frank Francisco (after throwing a pitch out over the plate and allowing Billy Hamilton to steal second base) escaped the bottom of the frame unscathed.

After Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the top of the ninth, Shin-Soo Choo hit a leadoff double off Tim Byrdak to open the bottom half of the inning.  With Brandon Phillips due up, Terry Collins replaced Byrdak with David Aardsma.  The Mets had Choo picked off second base after Aardsma’s first pitch and Brandon Phillips intentionally interfered with Travis d’Arnaud when he threw to second, resulting in a high throw and Choo reaching third base safely.   The home plate umpire missed the call, and Terry Collins failed to come out to argue.  After Phillips grounded out, the Mets intentionally walked Joey Votto to get to Ryan Ludwick.  Aardsma got Ludwick to pop out on a 3-1 count before intentionally walking Jay Bruce to load the bases and bring up the righty hitting Todd Frazier.  On a 2-2 count, Aardsma got Frazier to pop out to center to end the threat.

Josh Satin led off the top of the 10th with a single, and Wilfredo Tovar followed by bunting him over to second base.  Eric Young, Jr. then lined out to second, and Josh Satin was caught napping and doubled off to end the inning.

Greg Burke came in for the Mets in the bottom of the 10th, and after retiring Zack Cozart to open the frame, allowed a single to Devon Mesoraco.  Derrick Robinson followed by chopping a double over the head of Lucas Duda to put runners on first and third.  With Shin-Soo Choo due up, Terry Collins replaced Burke with Sean Henn (he of the 7.42 career ERA and 2.00 career WHIP).  On an 0-1 count, Choo smoked a ball high off the wall in left to drive in Mesoraco and give the Reds the victory.

Highlights:

• Aaron Harang got the start for the Mets and worked around lots of trouble while keeping the Mets in the game during his 6 innings.  His line: 6 innings pitched, 2 runs on 5 hits, 6 walks, and 1 strikeout.

• Travis d’Arnaud went 1 for 3 with a walk.

• Lucas Duda delivered a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning and hit a mammoth solo homer in the 6th.

Thoughts:

It ended up not influencing the outcome of the game, but I found it odd that Terry Collins failed to come out to argue in the bottom of the tenth inning when Brandon Phillips blatantly interfered with Travis d’Arnaud.  With Shin-Soo Choo hung out to dry between second and third base and no one out, d’Arnaud was interfered with by Phillips and Choo wound up on third after d’Arnaud’s throw to second base was high.  The home plate umpire missed the call, and d’Arnaud turned around to argue.  Collins, though, didn’t emerge from the dugout to back up his player and argue a terrible call that could’ve decided the game.

Next Up:

The Mets and Reds play the second game of their three game set tomorrow night at 7:10.  Jonathon Niese gets the start for the Mets.  He’ll be opposed by Mike Leake.

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