Mets Lost to Reds 6-2 After Offense Continues To Struggle

Mets RHP Carlos Carrasco (Photo Credits to Jim McIsaac-Getty Images) The New York Mets lost to the Cincinatti Reds 6-2 tonight at Citi Field and dropped their record to 54-48. RHP Carlos Carrasco made his season debut after missing the entire season so far due to a hamstring injury and got off to a rough start in he gave up a lead-off homer to 2B Jonathan India on the first pitch of the game in the top of the first. Carrasco settled down after that and didn't allow any more runs in the top of the first. He threw scoreless innings in the top of the second, third and fourth and was takenn out after the top of the fourth with 58 pitches. His final line was 4 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. RHP Miguel Castro followed in the top of the fifth and gave up a double to India with two outs and then a RBI single to LF Jesse Winker. RHP Drew Smith came in next and gave up a solo homer to 1B Joey Votto. Smith stayed in for the top of the seventh and threw a scoreless inning. LHP Anthony Banda followed and had a strong top of the eighth with three strikeouts. Banda stayed in for the top of the ninth and gave up a lead-off single to 3B Eugenio Suarez and then a double to pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson. Banda's struggles continued after he gave up a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Aristides Aquino and then a two-run homer to India, his second homer of the night. The offense got off to a promising start in the bottom of the first after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a single and 2B Jeff McNeil followed with a RBI double. 1B Pete Alonso then walked and LF Dom Smith singed to load the bases with no out. RF Michael Conforto came up with a chance to break the game open but struck out and then 3B Jonathan Villar grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the following inning, catcher Tomas Nido led off with a single but SS Luis Guillorme grounded into a double play and Carrasco struck out to end the inning. The bats didn't do much after that until the bottom of the ninth with two outs after Villar singled and pinch-hitter Brandon Drury continued his hot hitting as of late with an RBI double. Follwing a walk, catcher James McCann struck out to end the game. The Mets next game is tomorrow night at home against the Reds at 7:10 p.m.