Cincinnati Reds Fall To Mets 4-2

A night after clinching their second postseason berth in a row the Cincinnati Reds returned to GABP Tuesday night for the second

Sep 24, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier, left, and Cincinnati Reds catcher Corky Miller, right, watch from the dugout during a game against the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

of three games against the Mets. The momentum and excitement from the postseason berth apparently did not carry over for the Reds as they lost 4-2 to the New York Mets.

Mike Leake (14-7) took the mound for the Reds. Leake has been solid as of late, nothing to stellar like we saw out of him early in the season. Tuesday night Leake lasted all of 1.2IP allowing 8H and 4ER before being pulled. Leake has been left off the post season roster the last two appearances for the Reds, it could very well happen again. Although manager Dusty Baker said that this would not play into his decision.

The Mets jumped on the Reds early scoring 4 runs in the top of the second inning. A single by Wilfredo Tovar added one run then a three run homer by second baseman Daniel Murphy blew the game open 4-0.

Cincinnati would answer in the bottom of the second when Devin Mesoraco ground out to center to score Todd Frazier from first. The Reds blew an opportunity to score in the first inning. With runners on first and second Joey Votto struck out swinging. Bringing Ryan Ludwick to the plate who would single to center sending Shin Soo Choo to the plate. Unfortunately he was thrown out at the plate by an incredible throw from Juan Larages.

In the 5th the Reds managed to get one more run back in the 5th as Votto grounded out into a double play scoring Choo and putting the Reds within two.

From there though nothing else occurred. Cincinnati went down in order from then on. The one thing the Reds need to do a better job of, getting on base and hitting consistently. That has been plaguing the Reds all season.

Winning the NL Central seems to be out of reach at this point. The Reds are now playing for home field advantage in the one game play off against the Pirates. A weekend series against the Pirates will likely determine that this weekend.

Until then the Reds have a rubber match agains the Mets at 12:35pm ET today at GABP. Mat Latos (14-6) will be taking on former japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-3).