The Reds wrapped up their six-game home stand Wednesday with another mistake-filled loss, this one by a 6-3 score that allowed the New York Mets to complete a three-game sweep and extend to 14 their streak of consecutive wins against Cincinnati.
Besides having three runners caught stealing, the Reds also left 12 on base and went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
That dropped Cincinnati to 7-for-31 with runners in scoring position during the current four-game losing streak, which left the Reds with a 2-4 record on a home stand that also included two of their players losing track of the number of outs a total of three times — Eugenio Suarez on the bases in back-to-back games and Joey Votto defensively Monday.
Scott Schebler was thrown out standing up at second base Wednesday, while Suarez was picked off first, setting up Jose Peraza to be thrown out trying to steal home.
“We had some mistakes and missed opportunities,” manager Bryan Price said. “It was bad baseball. Schebler thought he heard the ball fouled off. When you’re this far under .500 (57-81), to have games like this regularly would make it a long season.
“This was not our typical game. I hope we don’t have one of these for a while. I don’t think we will.”
They kept getting Mets starter Noah “Thor” Syndergaard on the ropes, then pulling him off, dusting him off and letting him stand back up.
Cincinnati went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against Syndergaard. He struck out seven and improved to 4-1 with a 1.38 ERA over his last five starts.
Anthony DeSclafani (8-3) took the loss as the Reds fell for the fourth straight time. He allowed Reyes to score on a wild pitch when he was slow to cover the plate in the third inning.
“I didn’t think the ball got that far away,” he said. “I was late covering. I misjudged it. There’s no excuse. I have to do a better job.”
Peraza, starting at shortstop for Zack Cozart, doubled twice, singled twice and drove in two runs. Cincinnati trailed 5-0 in the eighth before scoring three times, two on Peraza’s double off Addison Reed that barely missed being a tying grand slam.
“I hit the ball really good, but I didn’t know if it was going to go out, so I ran,” Peraza, who also had a bunt single, said through the Reds’ interpreter. “I saw Reyes was back too far. I told myself to bunt, but I am swinging the bat pretty good. I decided to bunt any way on the first pitch.
“I’ve been working really hard. I’m watching video. I feel like I’m going to get three hits every game. I went through 15 games like this in the minor leagues.”
Reyes sent a shot into the right-field seats for his sixth homer.
“I was trying to get ahead and Reyes was trying to hit one out and he did,” DeSclafani said. “He’s been swinging the bat well lately. They all have this whole series. They have a good lineup and they’re playing pretty good.”
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