Game #105: Mets 10, Reds 9

In two games since replacing Carlos Beltran in right field, Lucas Duda is 3 for 7 with a home run and four runs batted in. (NYTimes.com)

It was hot today at Great American Ball Park. I mean really hot. "Milk was a bad choice" hot. Guess what else was hot? The Mets' bats.

Lucas Duda and Jason Bay highlighted back-to-back 4-run innings with bases-clearing doubles, and the Mets held back a furious comeback to sweep the Reds, 10-9.

The Good Stuff:

• The offensive machine started up in the 1st when David Wright singled home Daniel Murphy. Murph finished 1-3 with 3 runs and David went 3-5 with 2 runs.
• The machine stalled for a while but then came alive again in the 4th: New York got the bases loaded with none out, then two batters later Lucas Duda laced a double into the corner in right, scoring all three runners. Duda finished 2-4, bringing his average up to a good-looking .283, and he scored almost immediately on Josh Thole's RBI single.
• The Amazin's liked what they did so much in the 4th, they decided to do it again in the 5th. They promptly loaded the bases and Angel Pagan singled home a run. Jason Bay then got in on the action in a big way, hammering a double into the right center gap (his second 2-bagger of the game), clearing the bases and knocking out Cincy starter Homer Bailey. That made it 9-3 and seemingly broke the game open.
• ...But the Mets would need one more, and they got it in the 9th. Angel Pagan singled and stole second, then went to third after 2 walks. With 2 out and Willie Harris at the plate, Red pitcher Logan Ondrusek let one get away from him, and Pagan trotted home the 10th run on the wild pitch. That was enough.
• Pitching wasn't too good this afternoon, but Bobby Parnell turned in another solid performance. Opposite Cincinnati's fireballer, Aroldis Chapman, New York's fireballer went 1-2-3 in the 8th, making Edgar Renteria look silly (he lost his bat fishing for an 87 mph slider) for the strikeout third out. Jason Isringhausen gave up a homer to Joey Votto in the 9th, but it did the least amount of damage and he got the final outs in a row for his 4th save.

The Bad Stuff:

• New York needed every single run on this afternoon; pitching made sure of that. Chris Capuano picked up the win, but looked ugly doing it: 5 1/3 innings, 6 runs on 8 hits, 3 walks, 4 Ks.
• Manny Acosta didn't do much better relieving Cappy in the 6th; he allowed a 3-run homer to pinch-hitting Miguel Cairo on the first pitch. Pedro Beato also let one slip through on 2 doubles in the 7th.
• The Reds had 13 hits on the day and 8 were doubles. Not a good day for anyone on the mound.

Final Analysis:
Break out the magic brooms Mickey Mouse, cause we're sweeping the city away! The Mets got it by the skin of their teeth, but they most certainly got it: New York's first ever 4-game sweep in Cincinnati. And what a series it was.

The Mets take the momentum from their 4-game winning streak into the nation's capital, where they'll face Davey Johnson and his Washington Nationals. Friday night will also be the return of Chien Ming Wang, who will make his first start in two years. I wish him well...after we're done with him.

MM

Beltran Update
Carlos Beltran arrived in Philadelphia to meet his new San Fransisco Giants teammates and get ready for a familiar opponent. San Fran manager Bruce Bochy gave up his #15 to Carlos so he'd feel comfortable. As far as I know, he hasn't spent much time with bearded wonder Brian Wilson yet...trust me, we'll know when he does.


Wheeler Watch
Newly acquired prospect Zack Wheeler will make the move from Class A San Jose to Class A Port St. Lucie. His last start in the Giants organization was July 22nd, so his first start with the Mets will likely be in the next couple days. You can read about Wheeler's reaction to the trade here.
*10:15 UPDATE*: Wheeler tweeted about an hour ago that he expects his first start in PSL to be Monday.