By Justin Worsley
Despite yet another strong start by Jonathon Niese (6-3,) the New York Mets (47-38) were unable to generate any runs besides an early home run by Andrew Pagan as they fell to the Cincinnati Reds 3-1.
Niese pitched 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight batters while allowing six hits, however, he also gave up two home runs, including a go ahead homer by Chris Heisey in the seventh-inning and allowed three earned runs overall.
Reds right-handed pitcher Bronson Arroyo (9-4) shook off Pagan's early home run by shutting down the Mets offense. Arroyo pitched eight innings, throwing 72 strikes on 99 pitches and fanning three Mets batters.
Pagan launched his sixth home run of the season off a 2-1 pitch by Arroyo. Pagan was only the second Met batter of the game.
Niese helped preserve the Mets lead until second baseman Brandon Phillips continued to show fans why they voted him to the All-Star game when he took a 1-0 pitch and hit a solo home run in the third inning. his second this season on Niese.
Niese also helped put New York in scoring position in the third inning after knocking a 1-1 pitch down left field for a double, the second of his career. The lefty, however, ran despite not being forced to after Jose Reyes hit a grounder toward shortstop Orlando Cabrera. Instead of taking the force with Reyes, Cabrera instead threw the ball to third baseman Scott Rolen who made the tag on Niese.
Niese atoned for his mistake, however, retiring the next five batters and nine in a row overall. He failed to put the Mets on the scoreboard in his next plate appearance in the fifth inning, however, striking out with a man on second and third with one out. Jose Reyes would then ground out to end the inning with two runners in scoring position.
The next scoring opportunity for the Mets came in the sixth inning after Ike Davis hit a ground ball to Joey Votto setting him up for a double play. Votto, however was unable to handle the ball and instead of taking out lead-runner David Wright, the first baseman was instead forced to throw out Davis, allowing Wright to advance to second base. Jason Bay then came to bat with two out and hit a line drive to center field that appeared to be a base hit until Heisey made a running grab, ending the inning.
Heisey then broke open the game for the Reds in the seventh inning, hitting an inside pitch by Niese out of the ballpark, his fifth home run this season.
Cincinnati wasn't finished scoring and added another run after center fielder Drew Stubbs made an infield hit and Arroyo landed a bunt that went over Niese's head. Phillips came to the plate again and hit a line drive to right field that landed just on the foul line and bounced to the crowd for a ground-rule double, allowing Stubbs to cross home plate.
Francisco Cordero relieved Arroyo in the ninth inning and almost blew the save after allowing Davis to hit a double in the gap at right-center field. Two batters later, he walked catcher Josh Thole, putting the potential game-winning run at the plate. Cordero played shut down baseball after that, forcing center fielder Jesus Feliciano to fly out to Stubbs. Cordero then had a duel with second baseman Alex Cora. The eight pitch dueled ended, however, after Cora popped-out to Heisey to end the game, giving Cordero his 24th save of the season.
Cincinnati (49-37) won the series, taking two out of the three games. The Reds will now travel to Philadelphia for a four-game series while New York has the day off before starting a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves (50-35) in a battle for the division lead, which Atlanta lead by three games.
