Mets Beat Reds 5-1 Behind Stellar Start From Bassitt

Mets RHP Chris Bassitt (Photo Credits to Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)

 The New York Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 tonight at Citi Field for their fourth consecutive win and improved their record to 71-39.

The offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a hit by pitch and then RF Starling Marte followed with a two-run homer.

In the bottom of the third, SS Francisco Lindor walked with one out and then stole second.

Two batters later, DH Daniel Vogelbach continued his torrid start as a Met with a RBI single.

The bats did not much for the next four innings until the bottom of the eighth after Vogelbach doubled with two outs and then 2B Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch.

LF Tyler Naquin came up next and broke the game open with a two-run triple.

RHP Chris Bassitt cruised through the first three innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the fourth after 2B Jonathan India led off and reached on an error by 1B Pete Alonso and then two batters later, 3B Mike Moustakis hit a RBI single.

1B Joey Votto then hit a RBI ground-out.

Bassitt worked his way out of trouble in the top of the fifth after he was able to get CF Albert Almora  Jr to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Bassitt got himself into another jam in the top of the sixth, but was able to work himself out of it once again after he retired RF Aristides Aquino on a pop-up with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Bassitt worked out of another jam in the top of the seventh after allowing a hit and catchers interference, but then retired former met 2B Matt Reynolds on a fly-out to RF to end the inning.

Bassitt gave up a hit in the top of the eighth with two strikeouts and was taken out after the inning.

His final line was eight innings, eight hits, one run (zero earned), 0 walks and 8 strikeouts on a season-high 114 pitches.

Bassitt was impressive tonight despite not having his best stuff. 

He buckled down with men on base and was able to escape out of multiple jams using his fastball, change-up and slider.

Bassitt picked up his ninth win and lowered his ERA to 3.39.

RHP Adam Ottavino closed it out with a scoreless top of the ninth.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Tuesday August 9th at home against the Reds at 7:10 p.m.