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 Lucas Duda hit a pair of three-run homers, and rookie Noah
Syndergaard tossed seven shutout innings helping New York reduce its
magic number to one with a 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on
Friday night at Great American Ball Park.
"When I first picked up a baseball when I was seven years old, (I)
never thought that I'd be here at 23 pitching for the New York Mets
in a postseason race," Syndergaard said.
"I'm extremely blessed to be here. It's an unbelievable feeling."
Right fielder Curtis Granderson added a three-run homer off J.J.
Hoover putting the Mets (87-67) in position to clinch their first NL
East title since 2006 on Saturday afternoon with a victory over the
Reds or a Washington Nationals loss.
"It's a very exciting time," Duda said. "Hopefully we can handle our
business the next couple days and see where we're at."
Syndergaard (9-7) was sharp throughout Friday's outing, allowing two
runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks. He retired 16
straight in one stretch.
After some early struggles on the road, Syndergaard has posted a
2.34 ERA in his past three starts away from Citi Field.
"Tonight was the best start he's had," manager Terry Collins said.
"To go through that lineup the way he did was impressive. This kid's
really gotten better. He's going to pitch for us. I don't care
where."
New York erupted for five runs in the seventh to put the champagne
on ice.
Granderson's run-scoring double, and an RBI hit by second baseman
Daniel Murphy made the score 6-0. Granderson had four RBIs.
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Duda then thrilled the large contingent of Mets fans in attendance
when he launched a 3-1 pitch from left-hander Tony Cingrani an
estimated 441-feet into the right field seats.
Duda's six RBIs are a career-high. It also was his 12th career
multi-home run game and sixth this season which is tied for the
major-league lead.
Reds rookie right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (9-12) hung around for 6
1/3 innings but was lifted after 94 pitches and seven runs allowed,
five of which were earned.
Syndergaard didn't allow a hit over 5 1/3 innings before right
fielder Brennan Boesch hit his first home run of the season with two
outs in the eighth.
Cincinnati, losers of six straight and currently last in the
National League Central, scored four times with two outs in the
eighth.
Left fielder Adam Duvall hit his fourth homer off Mets right-hander
Tim Stauffer in the ninth. By then, though, Friday's result was a
foregone conclusion.
(Editing by Julian Linden)
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