On the Mets beat

Good evening everyone! Marc will be with you as the red-hot Mets continue their four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Oliver Perez will be on the hill for the Mets (52-45), who had won 10 straight games before Friday’s 10-8 loss to the Reds (47-51). Perez (6-5, 4.44 ERA), who has a 0.90 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 20 innings over his last three starts, allowed a run on two hits and six walks while striking out seven in six innings in his last start, but he received a no-decision in a 2-1 win over Colorado on July 11. Josh Fogg (1-2, 7.94), will be going for the Reds. He too didn’t factor into the decision during his last start on July 11 when he surrendered three runs on one hit in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 win over Washington.

Will be back after the Mets bat.

Top 1st: Wright smacked a two-out double and came around to score on an error. Beltran grounded to first and Fogg mishandled the feed from Votto. Mets 1, Reds 0.

Bottom 1st: Perez had a nice inning. His only blemish was a one-out single to Keppinger, who apparently kills lefties according to JC.

Top 2nd: Delgado had a leadoff single, but that was as far as he got as Tatis popped out and Schneider grounded into an inning-ending double play. Though, it should be noted, Delgado didn’t try hard enough to prevent the dp. He could have ran over Phillips.

Bottom 2nd: Another solid inning for Perez, who again allowed a one-out single. This time it was to Encarnacion.

Top 3rd: The Mets go down in order. Perez, Reyes, who popped out yet again, and Chavez get nothing.

Bottom 3rd: Griffey’s RBI double tied the game. Perez allowed a leadoff single to the pitcher, Fogg. He got Jay Bruce to line out to Chavez, who made a nice diving catch, before Griffey came up two batters later. Mets 1, Reds 1.

Top 4th: Wright belted a leadoff homer to give the Mets the lead. He has 19 homers and 75 RBIs. Delgado singled two batters later before Tatis hit into a fielder’s choice. Mets 2, Reds 1.

Bottom 4th: Perez walked the first two batters in the inning before allowing an RBI single to Votto. Three batters later, Tatis made a heck of a play on a sliding catch on a ball hit by Bruce, but the third base umpire thought it was a trap. Though it didn't hurt the Mets as Bruce flied out anyhow. Mets 2, Reds 2.

Top 5th: Following a fly out by Schneider, Perez connected on his first extra base hit on his 282nd at-bat. Reyes followed with an infield single, but Chavez grounded into a rally-killing, inning-ending double play.

Bottom 5th: A five-pitch inning for Perez!

Top 6th: The Mets wasted an opportunity to retake the lead. Wright and Beltran singled to start the inning, but Easley grounded into a dp and Tatis fanned after Delgado was intentionally walked.

Bottom 6th: The Reds take the lead for the first time. Perez walked Encarncion, uncorked a wild pitch and served up a RBI single to Ross. Reds 3, Mets 2.

Top 7th: Once again, the Mets blew an opportunity to score. They had the bases loaded with one out, but Wright and Beltran struck out looking on a 3-2 pitches. Go figure.

Bottom 7th: Ugly inning for the Mets as the Red scored four runs to blow this game open. Feliciano started the inning, but he was ineffective to say the least. Bruce led off with a base hit, Keppingler doubled to Beltran, who literally booted the ball as Bruce came around to score. After a ground out by Griffey, Phillips was intentionally walked and Dunn followed with an RBI single. Heilman came in to stop the bleeding, but he served up a two-run triple to Votto. Tatis made a poor attempt at a diving catch. Reds 7, Mets 2.

Top 8th: Easley, Delgado and Tatis are set down in order by former Met David Weathers.

Bottom 8th: Carlos Muniz pitches a hitless inning.

Top 9th: The Mets go down 1-2-3. Sloppy game, the Mets should have played better. Final: Reds 7, Mets 2.