The Mets’ winning streak is over.
Sunday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Reds snapped the playoff-hopeful Mets’ surge at nine consecutive wins, with Santiago Espinal’s tie-breaking two-run double in the top of the ninth proving to be the difference for Cincinnati.
Acquired in a July trade with Tampa Bay, reliever Phil Maton gave up the decisive hit and suffered his first loss with the Mets.
Offensively, the Mets managed only four hits against six Reds pitchers, including Alexis Diaz – the younger brother of Mets closer Edwin Diaz – who pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Mets’ issues on offense and in relief squandered a strong start by Luis Severino, who limited the Reds to one run over 6.2 innings and struck out eight.
Severino held the Reds hitless through four innings. Cincinnati’s Jake Fraley broke up the no-hit bid with a bloop double to lead off the fifth, and Espinal followed with a bloop single that put runners on the corners with no outs.
That’s when Severino dialed in.
He picked off Espinal with a quick throw to first, then struck out a swinging Noelvi Marte with an 86-mph sweeper. Four pitches later, he rocked a 98-mph fastball past Will Benson to preserve a scoreless tie.
Upon punching out Benson, an amped-up Severino turned his back to home plate, pumped both fists and unleashed a rapturous roar.
Reds rookie Julian Aguiar held the Mets scoreless over 4.2 innings in his fifth career start, but the Mets took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning on a two-out RBI from Starling Marte against reliever Tony Santillan.
Cincinnati answered with two outs in the seventh, when Marte lined an RBI single on Severino’s 97th and final pitch.
Severino exited to a loud ovation, but with a no-decision.
The 30-year-old now boasts a 1.95 ERA over his last five starts. He continues to be a godsend for a Mets rotation that’s been without ace Kodai Senga for all but one start this season.
A two-time All-Star selection, Severino signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Mets in December after nine years with the crosstown Yankees, the last five of which were interrupted or altogether ruined by injuries.
Severino has remained healthy this season, which he’s credited in part to a better sleep schedule and healthier meal choices. His 10 wins this season are his most since 2018, as are his 166 innings.
His excellence Sunday was not, however, enough for the Mets to clinch their longest winning streak since 2015.
The Mets will look to start a new winning streak Monday night in Toronto, where they’re set to begin a three-game series.