For a time last month, it seemed like every team ranked higher than the Mets in the National League wild-card race was winning on a daily basis.
Now, Carlos Mendoza's side are causing similar anxiety for the same squad.
It's a great time for the Mets, who delivered another well-rounded performance on Friday night at Citi Field to beat the Reds 6-4 in a 10-game series and extend their season-best eighth straight win.
Mark Vientos' second home run of the game, a two-run homer off left-hander Justin Wilson, sealed the win. Mets fans ripped off Vientos' jersey as he crossed home plate.
The Mets had some strong relief pitchers in Reid Garrett, Edwin Diaz and Jose Butt who dominated through 3 1/3 innings.
Diaz struck out three straight batters in the ninth inning after three of the four batters he faced against Garrett had already struck out.
Sean Manaea allowed just three hits in 6 2/3 innings, two of which were two-run home runs, before leaving the game with the score tied at 4-4.
Overall, the left-hander allowed four earned runs and struck out nine, marking the first time Manaea has allowed three or more earned runs since July 19 against Miami.
Vientos hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Mets a 2–0 lead.
Mets leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor singled to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games (he has reached base in 34 straight games) before Vientos' liner went over the left field fence.
Manaea gave up a two-run homer to Ellie de la Cruz in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Jonathan India walked as his leadoff hitter, and Manaea threw two straight sinkers to De La Cruz, the second of which went over the fence in left-center field, marking the fifth home run Manaea has allowed in his last four starts.
The Mets squandered an opportunity in the fifth when Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch while bunting, Francisco Alvarez walked with one out and then Lindor grounded out to turn into an inning-ending double play.
Manaea struck out India in the sixth inning, then rebounded to get De La Cruz to hit into an inning-ending double play.
The Mets took a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez.
With two outs, Pete Alonso sparked the comeback with a double off a ball that dropped out of the glove of Jake Fraley, who was attempting a sliding catch in right field.
With Iglesias coming in to pinch-hitter for Jesse Winker, Reds manager David Bell replaced left-hander David Williamson with right-hander Buck Farmer.
Iglesias hit a one-run single and Martinez (playing his first game back after paternity leave) added another run.
Manaea walked Spencer Steer in the seventh inning, then gave up his second two-run homer of the day. TJ Friedl homered with two outs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4 and end the left-hander's day.
Reid Garrett replaced Manaea and got the final out of the seventh.
The Mets threatened in the bottom of the inning, but Alonso was ejected after Brandon Nimmo and Vientos each singled with two outs.
According to the Mets, McNeil left the game with a bruised left wrist (Harrison Bader came in to pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning) and will undergo further evaluation on Saturday.
