Reds Beat Mets 7-4 With 3-Run 9th, Go 7-2 on Trip

May 22, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Votto hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the third inning of a game at Citi Field. The Reds won 7-4. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

In a battle of Mat(t)s, neither would get a decision in this game as the Cincinnati Reds plated three runs in the top of the 9th to score a 7-4 won. The Reds sent Mat Latos to the mound and the phenom that is Matt Harvey toes the slab for the New York Mets.

Latos looked shaky in the Mets 1st as a leadoff double by Daniel Murphy which was immediately followed by a Rick Ankiel double staked Harvey and the Mets to a 1-0 lead. The lead lasted until the Reds 3rd as a one-out double from Zack Cozart, who was 4-5 in this game, and Joey Votto launched a Harvey 3-0 fastball into the left-center seats.

Always nice seeing Votto hit those oppo home runs. (WATCH)

The Mets knotted the game at 2-2 in their half of the 5th. Ruben Tejada started the inning with a double and was sacrificed over to third by Harvey. Murphy would make the move stick with a sac fly, scoring Tejada.

The Redlegs and Metropolitans would exchange two-run innings in the 7th. Brandon Phillips, now the owner of a ten-game hitting streak, singled in Cozart. Jay Bruce followed with a soft grounder to first allowing Votto to score.

The lead was short-lived. New York John Buck singled, but was erased on a force out. Tejada beat BP’s throw to first. Pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin grounded out softly to Phillips and Tejada was now standing on second. Murphy was up to his tricks and singled sharply center and Tejada scored, making it a 4-3 game. Ankiel tripled scoring Murphy and it was tied once more. This time, it was 4-4.

The Reds came to the plate in the 9th to face Bobby Parnell. Things start out right for Parnell (but great for the Reds) as Shin-Soo Choo doubled and advanced to third on a Cozart sacrifice. Not surprisingly, the Mets elected to intentionally walk Votto.

When are teams going to learn that giving the freebie to Votto only encourages BP? Hopefully, never.

Phillips doubled on a softly hit ground ball that got by Mets first Baseman Ike Davis and Choo scored while Votto advanced to third. (WATCH) The intentional walk was utilized once again with Jay Bruce being the recipient.

Bases loaded and pinch-hitter Todd Frazier (Jack Hannahan got the start in this game) would bat for eventual winner Alfredo Simon. Frazier hit a soft line drive single as Votto and BP crossed the plate giving the Good Guys a 7-4 lead.

Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect 9th for his 10th save of the season.

Line Score

W:Simon (4-1); L:Parnell (4-1); SV:Chapman (10)

Good Guys 7-2 on Road Trip

If you want to drive yourself crazy beating your head against a wall, this could have been a perfect road trip and no less than 8-1.

The first game in Philadelphia was a 3-3 game after a Votto homer in the top of the 8th. Then we had the Phillies scoring twice with only one ball leaving the infield.

In the final game of the series in Philly, Aroldis Chapman surrendered two 9th-inning home runs to blow his second save of the season. Then we heard of pastry-gate. Personally, not buying into it as Chapman was a bit wild and the Phillies took advantage of a couple of pitches that got a little too much of the plate. (That link will take you to Brooks Baseball and you will see the location of said pitches.)

But we are forced to take 7-2, a record some might not have thought when the trip commenced. Cincy is now 13-12 on the road this season after starting 2013 with a 1-8 mark after their first 9 road games. 12-4 in their last 16.

Day off tomorrow and the Chicago Cubs head to GABP for three. Probables:

Game 1: Scott Feldman (4-3, 2.19) v. Bronson Arroyo (4-4, 3.28). 7:10 PM ET
Game 2: Travis Wood (4-2, 2.24) v. Homer Bailey (2-3, 3.09). 4:10 PM ET
Game 3: Matt Garza (0-0, 0.00) v. Johnny Cueto (2-0, 3.22). 1:10 PM ET