Mets rally after Edwin Diaz's blown save to beat Reds, avoid sweep

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Jul 20, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — Getting a starting pitcher through six innings is a victory in and of itself for the New York Mets these days, so to get a starter through six with a lead feels like an even bigger accomplishment.

A one-run lead is never enough for the Mets’ bullpen, and Edwin Diaz gave up the tying run trying for a four-out save in the top of the eighth inning. But after the Mets took back a one-run lead in the eighth, Ryne Stanek was able to protect it for the save (two), helping secure a 3-2 win to salvage a series against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

With two out and one on in the top of the eighth, Diaz (5-0) replaced right-hander Reed Garrett and promptly loaded the bases, walking Elly De La Cruz and giving up an infield single to Austin Hays. He plunked Spencer Steer to score the tying run, 2-2, but struck out Tyler Stephenson to end the inning.

The Mets didn’t get any big hits, but they were advantageous on the basepaths, using their legs to make the singles count and score twice against left-hander Andrew Abbott over his six-inning start. They did the same against left-hander Brent Suter and right-hander Tony Santillian in the bottom of the eighth to push the tying run across. Suter (1-1) walked Juan Soto and gave up a one-out double to Jeff McNeil.

Cincinnati then went to the bullpen to have Santillian face catcher Luis Torrens with runners on second and third. Torrens sent a grounder to McLain at second, and he got rid of the ball quickly but not quick enough as Soto came sliding in for the go-ahead run.

It was a rough start to the game for the Mets and David Peterson. Mark Vientos started at first base in place of Pete Alonso and was unable to make a tough pick, allowing leadoff man T.J. Friedl to reach base. Second baseman Luisangel Acuña made a tough play to stop a hard ground-ball, but his throw to Vientos had a little too much juice on it, and he was charged with an error.

Matt McLain and De La Cruz then hit back-to-back singles to drive in a run and give the Reds an early 1-0 lead.

Peterson got Hays to ground into a 5-4-3 double play, and Steer lined out to shortstop Francisco Lindor to end the inning and prevent further runs from crossing.

In the bottom of the second, Peterson got the first two outs before loading the bases, but he struck out McLain to get out of the jam. From there, his outing was much smoother, with the big lefty retiring the next six straight and 11 of 12 to end his outing.

The Mets scored one run in the bottom of the third and another in the fifth to give Peterson a 2-1 lead heading into his final inning. Peterson held the Reds to one unearned run on four hits, walked one and struck out four in six innings, his second straight outing of six or more innings and his 12th this season.

Tyrone Taylor legged out an infield single to lead off the third inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Acuña. He scored on an RBI single by Brandon Nimmo, beating the throw home.

In the fifth, Brett Baty led off with a single off Abbott and stole second before scoring on a one-out double by Acuña.

Alonso later entered the game, taking over for Vientos at first base in the top of the seventh, after getting treatment on the jammed right thumb that had him on the bench to start the game. He went 0 for 1 with a strikeout in his only at-bat.

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