Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jason Pridie hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth and the New York Mets took advantage of three Cincinnati errors to down the Cincinnati Reds, 8-6.
Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Mets, who have taken the first two contests of this four-game series.
Jon Niese (10-8) earned the win despite surrendering five runs in as many innings.
Tim Byrdak retired one batter in the ninth to record his first save since July 25, 2007.
"It's gratifying to grind it out with all the ups and downs," Mets relief pitcher Tim Byrdak said.
Let down by his defense, Johnny Cueto (6-4) allowed six unearned runs on seven hits over five-plus innings to suffer the loss.
Joey Votto belted a two-run homer.
The Reds, whose three errors matched a season-high, were flawed from the start.
Justin Turner reached with a one-out double in the first, and Carlos Beltran followed with a soft line drive to Votto, who failed to see the ball into his glove, putting runners on the corners. Turner scored on David Wright's groundout before Murphy lifted a fly ball to right. Drew Stubbs was in position, but failed to make the basket catch as Beltran crossed the plate. Murphy was credited with a hit.
In the third, Jose Reyes reached on an error by Brandon Phillips before Turner's single placed runners on the corners. Beltran then plated Reyes with a single, but Turner was cut down trying to take third.
Wright followed with a base hit and Murphy was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jason Bay's sacrifice fly to center scored Beltran and gave the Mets a 4-0 lead.
"[Cueto] was throwing the ball pretty good, but they batted around twice before we batted around once," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
Phillips singled in the fourth, stole second and crossed the plate on Chris Heisey's base hit. Heisey was a late addition to the lineup after the Reds traded Jonny Gomes to the Nationals prior to the game.
Ramon Hernandez and Stubbs reached in the home fifth and Edgar Renteria pushed them both across with a double down the line in right.
The Reds grabbed the lead one batter later on Votto's opposite field homer.
The advantage was short-lived, however, as Cincinnati again hurt itself with errors.
Bay began the sixth with a walk before Ronny Paulino slapped a tailor-made double-play ball to Miguel Cairo. Instead of turning two, Cairo attempted to play the ball off to his side and allowed it to roll into the outfield. Pridie took advantage, scoring Bay and Paulino with double to right.
Hernandez reached with a two-out single in the bottom half and pinch-hitter Yonder Alonso doubled down the right field line, but Hernandez -- more akin to a turtle than a jackrabbit -- was held at third.
Manny Acosta, who spelled Niese to begin the frame, put down Stubbs on strikes to escape.
Murphy and Angel Pagan added insurance in the seventh. Murphy's base hit scored Beltran and, later in the frame, Pagan scored Murphy with a bases- loaded, pinch-hit blooper to center.