Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

After taking four of five games from their NL East rival Atlanta Braves, the Mets were ready to keep their momentum going forward as they opened a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field. It was Justin Dunn (0-0) making his first start of the 2022 season on the mound for the visiting Reds. Dunn came off the injured list in late June and was just recalled on Monday. He was set to face Mets’ right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt (8-7, 3.52) who got the the start for the home team. The Mets were looking for their fourth straight win on Monday night.

The Mets did just that as they took a 5-1 win over the Reds. Bassitt (9-7, 3.39 ERA) got the win for the Mets. Dunn (0-1, 5.79 ERA) took the loss for the Reds.

Bassitt retired the Reds in order in the top of the first and collected two strikeouts in a strong first inning of work on the mound for the Mets.

The Mets got started very quickly offensively in the bottom of the first. Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch to lead-off the inning for the Mets. He was followed up by a two-run home run by Starling Marte that scored Nimmo to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead over the Reds in the first.

Dunn settled in and retired the next three batters he faced to retire the side.

Bassitt continued to pitch well in the second. He retired the Reds in order quickly to bring the Mets back to the plate.

Trying to keep the momentum going, Jeff McNeil led-off the second with a lead-off single for the Mets’ second hit of the night. Two batters later with two outs, James McCann singled to center field to advance McNeil to second. The Mets left McNeil and McCann stranded though as Nimmo struck out to end the inning.

The Reds recorded their first hit of the game in the third on a leadoff single by Aristides Aquino on a ground ball to McNeil. The Reds left him stranded though as Bassitt struck out Jose Barrero for his third strikeout of the day and forced Michael Papierski to ground into a double play to get out of the inning.

The Mets continued to hit the ball and extended their lead over the Reds in the bottom of the third. Francisco Lindor walked with one out. Two batters later Daniel Vogelbach singled to right field to drive in Lindor and extend the Mets’ lead to 3-0 over the Reds. McNeil then flew out to end the inning.

The Reds found their momentum in the fourth inning as Bassitt found himself in trouble for the first time on the night. Jonathan India led-off the inning with a single. Two batters later Mike Moustakas singled to center field to advance Senzel, who reached on a force out, to third. Joey Votto then came to the plate and grounded into a force out that scored Senzel to cut the Mets’ lead down to 3-1 in the fourth. Donovan Solana then singled for the Reds’ third hit of the inning before Bassitt wiggled out of trouble with a ground out of Jake Fraley to end the inning.

The Mets went down quiet in the fourth as Naquin walked to leadoff the fourth, but Dunn retired the side to get out of the inning unscathed as the Mets stranded one.

The Reds attempted to keep their momentum going in the fifth as Barrero hit a one-out single in the fifth and Papierski followed with a walk, but Bassitt grounded Albert Almora Jr. into a double play to get out of another jam.

Marte collected his second hit of the game to lead-off the fifth for the Mets. After retiring Lindor and Pete Alonso, the Reds went to their bullpen for the first time They brought in Ian Gibaut to replace Dunn on the mound. He struck out Vogelbach to get the final out of the game.

Justin Dunn’s final line:

4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 5.79 ERA

Bassitt had his second real “rollercoaster” inning of work in the sixth. Senzel led-off the inning for the Reds with an infield-single to third. Two batters later, after a strikeout of Matt Reynolds, Joey Votto was hit by a pitch. Two batters after that, again following a strikeout from Bassitt, Fraley followed with a single to load the bases. However, Bassitt again got himself out of trouble with a pop-out of Aquino as the Reds left the bases loaded in the sixth.

The Mets went down quietly in order in the sixth inning to bring Chris Bassitt back out for a seventh inning of work.

Bassitt had to once again fight through the seventh inning on the mound, but did just that to come out strong. After two quick outs, Almora Jr. singled to right field. Senzel then reached on a catcher interference by McCann that put two on for the Reds. As he had done in three other innings Monday night, Bassitt retired Reynolds to inch his way out of trouble and sneak out of the seventh without any other runs coming across.

The Reds went to their bullpen in the seventh. They brought in Luis Cessa, a former Mets draft pick, to replace Gibaut on the mound. Cessa retired the Mets in order in the seventh.

Bassitt was seen telling Buck Showalter “I’m fine” after the seventh and his manager put his trust in him as he came back out to pitch the eighth for the Mets. Bassitt had thrown 95 pitches (64 for strikes) through seven innings.

Bassitt showed signs of fatigue in the eighth, but still touched 95 MPH on pitch No. 113 of his outing as adrenaline and energy got him through the eighth inning. Bassitt gave up just one more hit in the eighth and struck out two more for eight strikeouts through eight innings of very impressive work. Bassitt threw 114 total pitches (75 for strikes) through eight innings of work. That is a season-high pitch count for Bassitt and two pitches under his career-high.

The Reds went back to their bullpen in the eighth. It was Ryan Hendrix who came in to replace Cessa on the mound.

The Mets continued to roll in the bottom of the eighth. After two quick outs, Vogelbach doubled to right field and McNeil was then hit by a pitch to put two on for Tyler Naquin. Naquin tripled off the wall to score two as Cahna (pinch ran for Vogelbach) and McNeill scored to extend the Mets’ lead over the Reds to 5-1. Hendrix intentionally walked Escobar and lined out McCann to get out of the inning. But the Mets scored two more for insurance heading into the ninth.

After eight immaculate innings for Bassitt, the Mets brought in Adam Ottavino to close it out.

Chris Bassitt’s final line:

8.0 IIP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR, 3.39 ERA

Ottavino gave up a lead-off single to Barrero and walked Senzel, but he retired the other three batters he faced to get out of trouble and solidify the save and a 5-1 Mets win over the Reds.

Monday’s win was the Mets’ fourth straight and their 71st win of the season as they improved to 71-39 on the season. They also extend their NL East lead to seven games over the Braves who had an off-day on Monday.

MMO Player of the Game:

Your Metsmerized Player of the Game was Starling Marte. He was 2-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI’s and a first inning home run that started the Mets’ scoring.

Next Up:

The Mets and Reds continue their series on Tuesday at Citi Field at 7:10 PM ET. Mike Minor (1-8, 6.19 EREA) will get the ball for the Reds against Carlos Carrasco (12-4, 3.82 ERA) for the Mets as the Mets go for their fifth straight win and a series win over the Reds.