NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Daniel Vogelbach had a three-run double in the seventh inning, and the New York Mets hurt Cincinnati's wild card chances with an 8-4 victory on Sunday over the sloppy Reds.
Cincinnati (78-73) dropped a half-game behind Miami and Arizona for the NL's final wild card berth. The Diamondbacks played later Sunday.
Third baseman Noelvi Marte, first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and pitcher Carson Spiers made errors for the Reds. Cincinnati allowed a pair of unearned runs against the Mets (69-80), who avoided a three-game sweep.
José Quintana (3-5) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Noelvi Marte put Cincinnati ahead with an RBI single in the first. Francisco Álvarez hit a two-run double in the second, when the Mets also got a run-scoring wild pitch from Brandon Williamson (4-5).
Nick Senzel homered in the fifth, cutting the Reds' deficit to 3-2, but Encarnacion-Strand's error in the bottom half led to an RBI single by Mark Vientos, who had a career-high three hits.
After Spiers' throwing error on Vientos' comebacker wasted a double-play opportunity, Vogelbach's double to the base of the center-field wall and Ronny Mauricio’s RBI single put the Mets ahead 8-2.
Encarnacion-Strand hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Jeff Brigham, his eighth home run this season.
Williamson gave up three runs in four innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: C Luke Maile (left hand) sat out his second straight game. Maile was hit by a pitch on Friday night. … RHP Graham Ashcroft (right big toe) will undergo surgery Tuesday.
Mets: Manager Buck Showalter said 3B Brett Baty (left groin) is recovering more slowlyr than expected but could sreturn to the lineup Monday.
UP NEXT
Reds: Cincinnati opens its final homestand Monday with a three-game series against AL Central-leading Minnesota, which starts RHP Joe Ryan (10-9, 4.20 ERA).
Mets: RHP José Butto (1-2, 3.46 ERA), who earned his first major league win last Tuesday, starts Monday as New York opens its last trip of the year at Miami and RHP Edward Cabrera (6-7, 4.52 ERA).
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