Mets dominate early, Reds crack window late but still stink, lose 12-5

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

In a meaningless game featuring a mostly awful showing by the Reds as a whole, I generally just go with whichever Red had the best stat-line. There's plenty of meandering to go around; Jason Bourgeois had a 3 hit night and scored a run, Brennan Boesch hit a home run, Adam Duvall hit a home run, Ivan De Jesus Jr. continues to attempt to carve out a 2016 roster spot with 2 RBIs in one AB, and Joey Votto extended his on-base streak to 42 games with a hit and a walk.

But, there was a guy in this game playing for a team that is trying to lock up a playoff spot (and coming dangerously close to doing it after tonight's win and a Nats loss) that hit 2 HR and 6 RBI. His name is Lucas Duda, and he's getting the trophy.

I've never thought much of Doodz, for whatever reason, but he's putting up a very competent season for the Mets. Owner of 24 home runs and a .352 OBP, the Mets first baseman has a 130 wRC+ in a season where the Mets have certainly needed the runs.

You yelled at me the last time I gave this award to a non-Red (AJ Burnett, if I remember), but screw it. Have a trophy, Duda-head. Hopefully Wick will return soon before I turn this place into Amazin' Reporter.

Key Plays

• The Mets got the scoring started in the top of the 2nd when Michael Conforto doubled with one out. Ruben Tejada's ground out to second base moved Conforto to third, and then Noah Syndergaard dropped the hammer for a single, scoring Conforto. Mets led, 1-0.
  
  
• The Mets continued to batter DeSclafani in the 3rd; Daniel Murphy doubled, Yoenis Cespedes singled, and Lucas Duda cashed them all in with a 3-run ding-dong into left center field. Disco managed to get the next two but, dang. Mets led, 4-0.
  
  
• In the top of the 7th, a Reds fielding error allowed Tejada to reach first base and then promptly take second on a Syndergaard bunt. Curtis Granderson (still a thing, miraculously) doubled to score him and after a David Wright single, Bryan Price had seen enough and replaced Disco with Tony Cingrani. Cingrani immediately allowed a bloop single to Murphy that scored Granderson. After getting Cespedes to fly out, Spaghetti served a meatball to Duda who slurped it up with his second Mama Mia of the game. There was another out or something but, whatever, really. Mets 9-0.
  
  
• Another inning, another Mets home run: in the 8th, Conforto led off the inning with a single off of JJ Hoover, Tejada flew out, Syndergaard singled, and then Granderson (very much still a thing in this game) blasted a Grandy-Man-Can to right field. Hoover got outs thereafter. Mets 12-0.
  
  
• The Reds showed that they still have a faint heartbeat in the bottom of the frame. After consecutive outs by Duvall and Barnhart, Brennan F. Boesch flexed a Syndergaard offering into the seats in right field. Bourgeois kept annoying the big right hander with his 3rd hit of the night and Terry Collins decided at that point he didn't want Thor to face Captain Canada and pulled Syndergaard. Eric O'Flaherty was tasked with ending Joey Votto's consecutive on base streak at 41. He failed; Votto smoked a single to center field that scored Bourgeois. Bobby Parnell then replaced O'Flaherty and allowed a single to Brandon Phillips. Phillips took second on defensive indifference and then Ivan De Jesus Jr. singled to score Votto and Phillips. Skip Schumaker singled before Eugenio Suarez struck out to end the inning for the Reds. Mets led 12-4.
  
  
• Adam Duvall homered in the bottom of the 9th but the Reds still came up way short. Mets win 12-5.

SadGraphs

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=1138886&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-09-25&team=Reds&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-09-25&team=Reds&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span>

Other Notes

• Joey Votto's 8th inning single extended his on-base streak to 42 games. It's the longest streak for a Reds since Pete Rose reached in 48 straight games. 6 more games on-base is certainly in reach for the Reds MVP candidate.
  
  
• So, I kinda forgot about Michael Conforto and the debate earlier this summer about whether or not he should be fast tracked from AA to MLB in order to help a struggling New York Mets offense. I remembered earlier this week when researching our weekend foe, and as it turns out he's been really good. Since I'm currently fawning over the Mets and our friends at Amazin' Avenue, go ahead and check out this summary of his arrival. Basically: Good usage has allowed the 22 year old rookie to quietly soar in the rejuvenated Mets offense. Makes me itch to have the opportunity to write a similar article about our very own Jesse Winker in the coming year/s.
  
  
• While watching ESPN earlier today (and by watching I mean having-it-on-in-the-background-for-noise), I saw the celebration after the Kansas City Royals clinched the AL Central. Nothing today got me right in the feels as much as seeing a jubilant Johnny Cueto bounding out to the mound to celebrate with his teammates.
  
  
• The same will not be able to be said about former Red Mike Leake, unfortunately. He'll go tonight (and have to get right from a 7+ ERA in his last 3 starts) against Oakland's Sonny Gray. With a Giants loss, the Cubs will clinch a postseason berth and as it stands right now, the Dodgers magic number in the NL West is 3. It's basically over, but a bad Leake start tonight will all but be a nail in the coffin for the San Fransisco Giants.
  
  
• Let's all take a moment to remember the 2012-2013 Cincinnati Reds pitching rotation. RIP.
  
  
• Let's all take a moment to remember Tony Cingrani's career as an effective major league pitcher. RIP. (I'm being mostly facetious, but damnit, this sucks).
  
  
• I've had a bromance with the Mets this week, but, after tonight, Tunes. (You're welcome, Petey).