Four hours and 45 minutes after the first pitch, the New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds 15-11 in 11 innings.

After Sunday’s debacle with Taijuan Walker throwing just one-third of an inning, the last thing the Mets needed was a slugfest. Instead, the Mets and acting manager Dave Jauss were in for a headache until the final inning.

Jared Eickhoff had the start for New York. The struggling starter was given zero help by his defense, allowing seven runs to cross but only two were earned. The usual slick-fielding Luis Guillorme had three errors in the first two innings. Guillorme’s first-inning slip-up led to three runs crossing and his dual fielding and throwing error in the second led to another Reds run.

In all, the Mets had four errors in the opening two innings. Jeff McNeil missed a throw to Guillorme at second for a would-be double play.

New York was only down 7-3 at the time. Top of the first home runs from Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil gave the Mets a small cushion.

The resilient Mets continued to battle. New York grabbed three runs in the fourth inning from Michael Conforto‘s two-run home run and a single from Alonso that drove in Tomas Nido. Dominic Smith homered in the fifth to tie the game at seven.

After three and two-thirds the Mets went to the bullpen. Yennsy Diaz threw a scoreless inning and a third, with Miguel Castro getting the final two outs of the sixth inning.

Castro was charged with the go-ahead run in the seventh. Seth Lugo entered for Castro with two outs. Jesse Winker doubled to right field scoring the inherited runner Tucker Barnhart.

In the eighth, the Mets had another edition of pinch-hit magic. James McCann replaced Nido and promptly launched a two-run home run to left field and make it a 9-8 ballgame.

McCann caught the rest of the game. Lugo went to work again. He struck out three batters in the bottom of the eighth to keep the Mets up one heading into the ninth.

New York went to its closer, Edwin Diaz. Diaz’s stretch of poor outings continued. He walked his first batter, Kyle Farmer, then proceeded to strike out Barnhard and get Jonathan India to ground out. Pinch runner Aristides Aquino was on second with Jesse Winker up. The Mets could’ve intentionally walked Winker with the runner already at second. The Reds pitcher’s spot was up next due to a double switch. Instead, the Mets attacked Winker and he lined a double to center to tie the game. Diaz’s third blown save.

The Mets had one fresh bullpen arm heading into extras. They managed to get the free runner home after a single from McCann and lead 10-9. The freshly called up Anthony Banda had to throw to steal the win.

Banda has a 6.52 ERA in Triple-A this season. His first task was to get out Joey Votto. Votto singled, followed by a Tyler Naquin single to score the tying run. Banda got a double-play from Eugenio Suarez and a groundout to escape with the game tied.

The Mets had another chance in the 11th. Brandon Nimmo led off with a single. Alonso struck out. McNeil singled to score the go-ahead run. Banda reached on a fielder’s choice, Nimmo was out at home.

Cincinnati subbed Nick Castellanos into right field and moved Naquin to center field. But it turns out defensive switches don’t matter when the ball leaves the field. Kevin Pillar hit a three-run shot to left field and that would make it a 14-10 ballgame. Conforto followed with his second home run on the night to put the Mets up five. Their seventh home run of the evening.

Banda started the 11th. Aquino grounded out to start, then singled from Barnhart and India would result in him being pulled. Trevor May, pitching for the third time in as many days, finished the game with a flyout of Castellanos and strikeout of Mike Freeman.

The Mets and Reds will reconvene Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. The Mets will bat against Wade Miley, the Reds don’t know who will be on the mound yet.