Jason Vargas was roughed up for the third straight start as the New York Mets (18-16) were defeated by the Cincinnati Reds (9-27) by a score of 7-2 on Tuesday night at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Pitching

Vargas struggled early as he allowed a pair of runs in the first inning. Jose Pereza and Scott Schebler led off the game with back-to-back singles before a Joey Votto hit by pitch loaded the bases.

Eugenio Suarez then singled home both Pereza and Schebler to give Cincinnati a 2-0 first inning lead. Vargas was able to minimize the damage as a fly out and a 5-4-3 double play ended the inning.

Tucker Barnhart tripled to leadoff the second, however, he was stranded there as Vargas struck out Luis Castillo, Billy Hamilton, and Peraza.

The Reds struck for two more runs in the third. Votto drew a one-out walk, he came around to score on a Suarez double as the relay throw snuck by Tomas Nido. Two batters later, Suarez increased the lead to 4-0 as he scored on a Barnhart single.

Vargas bounced back in the fourth to finish his night with his first and only 1-2-3 inning of the game. Vargas threw four innings, and allowed four runs, on six hits, while walking two and striking out one.

Seth Lugo took over in the bottom of the fifth, and struck out Votto looking en route to a 1-2-3 inning.

AJ Ramos worked around singles by Adam Duvall and Hamilton in a scoreless sixth inning. He allowed a leadoff double to Schebler in the seventh, before being pulled for Jerry Blevins.

Blevins retired the only batter he faced, as he was able to get Votto to fly out to right center. Hansel Robles then came in and allowed an RBI single to Suarez, increasing the lead to 5-2.

A batter later, Scooter Gennett took Robles deep to make it 7-2 Cincinnati. Robles issued a walk and allowed a single before being pulled after tweaking his ankle on an attempt to field a sacrifice bunt.

Paul Sewald came on in relief of the injured Robles, and retired the only batter he faced in the seventh. Sewald needed only three pitches in a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.

Hitting

After Luis Castillo was perfect through four innings, Amed Rosario picked up the Mets first hit of the game with a two out single to left center in the top of the fifth.

After being double switched into the game, Wilmer Flores got the Mets on the board with a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

Asdrubal Cabrera singled and Yoenis Cespedes walked with two outs in the sixth. Amir Garrett was then brought into the game, to face Bruce, who he walked on four pitches to load the bases.

Adrian Gonzalez then drew a bases loaded walk, cutting the lead to 4-2. Brandon Nimmo came off the bench to pinch hit for Lugo, however, he struck out to strand the bases loaded.

Cabrera singled and Cespedes walked leading off the eighth. However, a Bruce strike out and a Gonzalez double play ended the inning.

Juan Lagares led off the top of the ninth with a pinch hit single. Devin Mesoraco struck out looking as he made his Mets debut with a pinch hitting appearance.

On Deck

The Mets will look to bounce back and take the rubber game as they send Zack Wheeler to the mound against Sal Romano. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. The game can be seen on SNY and heard on 710 WOR.