CINCINNATI -- The New York Mets came close to waking up this morning with a share of the second wild-card spot. Instead, with the Pittsburgh Pirates one strike from completing a victory against the Cardinals on Tuesday night at PNC Park, Tony Watson served up three ninth-inning homers and St. Louis rallied for the win.
The Giants also rallied late for a victory in Colorado, so the Mets still trail San Francisco by 1½ games and the Cardinals by one game for the two NL wild-card spots.
The Mets, winners of 13 straight games against Cincinnati, try to complete another sweep of the Reds on Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park. Noah Syndergaard (12-8, 2.56 ERA) opposes right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (8-2, 2.93).
WEDNESDAY’S NEWS REPORTS:
Yoenis Cespedes had a go-ahead two-run homer and Curtis Granderson, Jose Reyes, and Alejandro De Aza also went deep as the Mets beat the Reds, 5-3, Tuesday. Cespedes said the Mets’ surge is reminding him of the team’s 2015 magic. Rafael Montero allowed three runs on three hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Manager Terry Collins said he is undecided whether Montero will start again or whether the manager would turn elsewhere if neither Jacob deGrom nor Steven Matz is ready to return the next turn through the rotation. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Newsday, Record and at NJ.com and MLB.com.
Chris Flexen surrendered six first-inning runs and St. Lucie lost Game 1 of its first-round playoff series, 11-6. Read the minor league recap here.
Paul Solotaroff at Men’s Journal quotes an anonymous beat writer about covering the “hedonistic” ’86 Mets.
Read more on Gavin Cecchini’s promotion to the majors at NJ.com and MLB.com.
BIRTHDAYS: David Newhan turns 43. ... Brian Stokes is 37. ... Darren Bragg is 47. ... Rick Sweet is 64.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
Last night, my strikeout got everyone in Cincy free pizza. Then I gave 2 slices to a homeless lady I walked by. #FeedingThePeople
— Ty Kelly (@tykelly11) September 6, 2016
YOU’RE UP: Are the Mets likely to finish ahead of the Giants and Cardinals and host the wild-card game?