The Cincinnati Reds picked the perfect time to heat up. After finishing off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a tight 1-0 win on Sunday, Cincinnati has now rattled off five straight victories and pulled even with the New York Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot.
Gavin Lux delivered the key hit with an RBI double, while the Reds’ pitching staff once again carried the load. Tony Santillan made things tense in the ninth by walking two batters, but he managed to escape without damage to seal the win.
Earlier in the day, the Mets dropped a game to the Washington Nationals, which allowed the Reds to move into a tie. Cincinnati holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over New York, giving them the edge if the two clubs remain locked.
MORE: Trouble brewing in Detroit: Tigers continue September collapse
What’s next on the schedule
The Reds will get a breather on Monday before opening a pivotal series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. After that, they’ll close out the regular season against division-leading Milwaukee, a series that could determine their October fate.
The Mets, meanwhile, also rest on Monday before meeting the Cubs. With only a week left in the season, every pitch matters for both teams.
Cincinnati fans know the playoff drought has been a sore spot in recent years, but this stretch run has the team positioned for a dramatic finish.
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