Sal Stewart Powers Reds Past Mets in Cincinnati Slugfest

The Cincinnati Reds put on an early offensive clinic on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, and that proved to be the difference in a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets. This wasn’t some marathon pitching duel or a tightly contested defensive struggle. No, this was an old-fashioned power display where the Reds’ hitters, particularly Sal Stewart, simply refused to be denied.

Stewart was the story of the evening, driving in four runs on two hits, including a mammoth three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning that set the tone for everything that followed. If you’re wondering whether the Mets ever had a chance to dictate terms in this contest, that blast answered the question emphatically. Spencer Steer added another solo shot moments later, and just like that, Cincinnati had already built a 4-0 lead before the Mets had even registered a meaningful at-bat.

Kodai Senga, supposedly back from the injured list for the Mets, looked nothing like a pitcher ready to anchor a playoff rotation. Four innings, four earned runs, four walks, and five strikeouts tells you everything you need to know: he had no command and the Reds made him pay for it. Yes, the strikeouts were respectable, but when you’re giving up walks at that clip against a team that knows how to take advantage, you’re asking for disaster. Senga was throwing strikes when he felt like it, and the Reds’ hitters were aggressive enough not to wait around for perfection.

Brady Singer was far from brilliant himself for Cincinnati, but he was smart and efficient where it mattered. Five innings, three hits, one earned run, three walks, and five strikeouts showed a pitcher who understood his situation: you don’t need to be perfect when your team has already given you a four-run cushion. Singer managed the game intelligently and let his defense work behind him. Tony Santillan closed things out cleanly in the ninth, needing just one inning to secure the save.

Mets Stage Weak Rally, Too Little Too Late

New York did manage to scratch back into the game somewhat, with Mark Vientos hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Bo Bichette driving in a run earlier in the game. But this was the definition of too little, too late. Down 5-1 at that point, the Mets were essentially playing out the string. Manager Carlos Mendoza’s ejection in the seventh inning seemed to sum up the frustration of a team that simply got punched in the mouth early and never recovered.

Reds’ Offensive Depth on Full Display

What should concern Mets fans isn’t just the loss. It’s that the Reds didn’t need a complete game, a shutout, or even a particularly dominant pitching performance to beat them. Cincinnati’s lineup showed the kind of depth and patience that wins division races. When your third and fourth hitters can both crank home runs and your cleanup man drives in four, you’re going to win plenty of games. The Reds proved on Tuesday night that they can beat you with power, with efficiency, and without needing everything to break perfectly.

The Mets will get another chance to salvage this series, but they were thoroughly outplayed in this one from the opening pitch.