The New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 9-4, in Game 2 on Thursday of their two game set at Citi Field. The Mets split the series after losing the first game, 6-3, on Wednesday.
The Mets used knuckleballer R.A. Dickey at pitcher while the Reds used Mat Latos. Dickey went six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) while walking one batter striking out eight. Latos gave up three runs, all earned in five innings of work. Latos struck out seven and walked three batters.
The Reds built a 4-0 lead in the game between the fourth and fifth innings. Joey Votto's solo shot started the scoring in the fourth inning while the Reds batted around for three runs in the fifth inning, including Latos providing some of his own offense with a sacrifice fly. The Mets answered right back in the fifth with a two-run double from Lucas Duda. New York got one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings on sacrifice flies to tie the game at 4. A David Wright double in the eighth inning brought home Rob Johnson to give the Mets their first lead of the game at 5-4. The Mets then blew the game wide open. First, Justin Turner hit an RBI single. Then, Ronny Cedeno blasted a three-run homer to push the lead to 9-4.
The Mets bullpen got the job done by holding the Reds to just three hits while striking out three batters over the final three innings. Frank Francisco came in to close out the ninth and walked one batter in a scoreless inning. Bobby Parnell was given the decision for the win for New York for his work in the eighth inning. He allowed one hit and struck out a batter. Logan Ondrusek who gave up five runs, all earned, in the eighth got the loss for Cincinnati.
The Mets will be on the road for their next series against the Toronto Blue Jays which starts on Friday.
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