Mets’ nine-game win streak ends with a whimper in loss to Reds

A Diaz got the save at Citi Field Sunday, but for the Mets, it was the wrong one, as Cincinnati’s Alexis Diaz — Edwin’s brother — shut down the Mets in the bottom of the ninth of a 3-1 loss, and the Mets saw their nine-game winning streak end.

Phil Maton gave up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to break a tie in a game the Mets got nothing from the top half of the lineup.

It was a disappointing end to an otherwise tremendous homestand, as the Mets now head to Toronto to begin a six-game road trip that also includes three games in Philadelphia.

Luis Severino gave the Mets another solid start, as the right-hander gave up one run in 6 ⅔ innings, but the offense never got going against Cincinnati rookie right-hander Julian Aguiar or the Reds’ bullpen.

With the game tied heading into the ninth, Maton entered and after being very effective since coming over from Tampa Bay prior to the trade deadline, struggled on Sunday.

The right-hander hit Spencer Steer with a pitch to start the ninth.

Ty France followed with an infield single that might have gone for a double to left if not for a diving stab by Mark Vientos, his second of the game.

A grounder to second by Jake Fraley put runners on second and third for Santiago Espinal.

With the infield in, Espinal gave the Reds the lead with a two-run single to left.

The Mets couldn’t rally in the bottom of the inning.

The lineup was quiet all day, beginning against Aguiar, who was making just his fifth major league start.

He’d allowed eight runs in 6 ⅔ innings in his previous two starts, but pitched 4 ⅔ shutout innings on Sunday.

Four relievers kept the Mets off the board until Diaz entered to start the bottom of the ninth.

Diaz retired the side in order to close it out.

Severino, coming off an excellent start against Boston, retired the first seven batters he faced.

After Severino walked Will Benson with one out in the third, Mark Vientos made a nice diving play on Luke Maille’s grounder down the line for the second out. 

Harrison Bader raced down Jonathan India’s liner to center to end the inning. 

Bader got the game’s first hit with one out in the bottom of the third.

With two outs, Brandon Nimmo hit a ball over the foul pole in right and it was ruled foul before he flied out.

Severino’s leadoff walk to Elly De La Cruz in the fourth was erased by Luis Torrens, who threw him out trying to steal second. 

The Mets threatened in the fourth when Vientos opened with a walk and Pete Alonso got hit by a pitch, but Jesse Winker grounded into a forceout, Jose Iglesias flied out and Starling Marte grounded out.

Cincinnati didn’t pick up a hit until Jake Fraley’s bloop double to start the fifth. Santiago Espinal followed with a bloop hit to right to put runners on the corners with no one out.

Severino then picked off Espinal at first and, with the infield in, struck out Noelvi Marte. He got Benson swinging with a 98-MPH four-seamer to finish it off and keep the game scoreless.

Harrison Bader reached on an infield single- just the Mets’ second hit of the day, both by Bader- with one out in the fifth and he stole second on a Francisco Lindor strikeout.

Against right-hander Tony Santillan, Nimmo lined to center to keep the game scoreless.

Alonso walked with one out in the sixth and got to second on an Iglesias two-out infield single.

Marte came through with a rocket single to center that scored Alonso to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. 

Torrens then fanned to strand two runners.

Severino faltered in the seventh, hurt by some soft contact.

Ty France reached on an infield hit to open the inning and after Fraley reached on a forceout, he moved to second on a wild pitch.

After Severino struck out Santiago Espinal, Noelvi Marte drove in the Reds’ first run with a blooper to right to end Severino’s outing.