September 27th 2015 -- Mets 8, Reds 1

Sunday afternoon at the Great American Ballpark, the Mets one day after clinching the NL East started their second string, but it didn’t slow down the offense as the Mets behind a masterful Jacob deGrom beat up the Reds 8-1.  The Mets got right to work again in the top of the 1^st inning. Kelly Johnson batting 2^nd and starting at short stop singled. Michael Conforto then hit a long double one hopped off the wall in left center to make it 1-0 Mets.  In the 2^nd inning Dilson Herrera making his first start in 3 months stroked a 2 run homer to center, his 3^rd on the year and the Mets led 3-0.  In the 3^rd deGrom added a 2 run single to make it 5-0. In the 5^th, deGrom reached on an error by Ivan DeJesus in left which brought home Eric Campbell.  Juan Lagares then reached on an infield single off Brandon Phillips glove to score Herrera and it was 7-0 Mets.  In the 6^th, Kevin Plawecki who batted clean-up, clubbed a solo homer to left, his 3^rd on the year to make it 8-0 Mets. On the mound, deGrom was brilliant. He allowed his only run in the bottom of the 6^th on a RBI single by Joey Votto.  deGrom left after 6 allowing just 5 hits the 1 run (earned) and struck out 9; he now has 198 strikeouts on the year.  He earns the win he's now 14-8. Herrera had a huge game off the bench with 3 hits, the double, homer and 2 RBI. Eric Campbell had 2 hits as did deGrom and Lagares.  Skip Schumaker had 3 hits for the Reds. Erik Goeddel pitched the 7^th, Sean Gilmartin the 8^th and  Bobby Parnell pitched the 9^th. With the win the Mets improve to 89-67 on the year. The Mets sweep the 4 game set from the Reds. They have now won 11 straight on the road and since they were 16-32 on the road mid-season they now have won 24 of  29 away from Citi and they clinch a .500 record with a 41-37 record.  Monday is a well-earned off-day for the Amazins. Tuesday night the Mets are off for 3 games in Philly.  Bartolo Colon (14-12 4.15) goes for the Mets, David Buchanan (2-9 7.96) goes for Philadelphia.