The Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the Diamondbacks, ahead of a big series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
PHOENIX – For the first time in three days, the New York Mets cooperated. And the Cincinnati Reds made them pay.
The Reds' 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of their three-game series at Chase Field averted a sweep and gained a game in the National League wild-card standings on the Mets for the final league playoff position.
The Reds moved to 1 1/2 games behind the Mets, whose loss to the Atlanta Braves went final just as the Reds and DBacks took the field in the afternoon of Aug. 24 in Arizona.
The Reds, who have 31 games to play, next travel to Los Angeles for a three-game set against the defending World Series-champion Dodgers; the Mets have the NL East-leading Phillies at home next.
After a pair of disappointing losses in the desert to open the DBacks series, the Reds needed a big eighth inning to take the lead and get out of town with a win, snapping a three-game losing streak.
They're the only team in the majors this year that hasn't been swept in a series. The 43 straight series, dating to last year, already is the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. If they don't get swept in L.A. they'll tie the 1969-70 Reds for third on the list.
The Reds sent 10 men to the plate in the eighth, scoring five runs. Spencer Steer had the big blow, a three-run homer to left two batters after Austin Hays drove home the go-ahead run with a single to center.
Steer doubled leading off the seventh but was stranded when TJ Friedl grounded into an inning-ending, bases-loaded double play.
Noelvi Marte, who scored ahead of Hays' single after leading off the eighth with a single, tied the score in the sixth with a Little League home run: He tripled to center, then scored when the relay throw skipped past third for an error.
Reds starter Brady Singer allowed only one hit in six impressive innings – a triple into the right-field corner leading off the first inning. It led to the only run he gave up, on a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sacrifice fly.
Singer, who struck out nine and walked three, has allowed just two runs over 18 innings in his last three starts (1.00 ERA) – seven in his last five (1.80).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds avoid sweep in desert, gain game on Mets in playoff race
Category: Baseball
