The Cincinnati Reds had a big day on Friday. They came on the day that a competition behind the New York Mets for the third and final wildcard spot. And the Reds were also one competition for the Arizona Diamondbacks. With three games in the season, they were the only three teams that were still alive in the Playoff race.
The Mets were in Miami to take on the Marlins and their game started before the other team teams could enter the field. New York took an early 2-0 lead, but the Marlins stormed back and scored six points in the second half of the 5th inning and neither teams would score the rest of the road. The loss dropped the Mets to 82-78 in the season.
That final meant that if Cincinnati could win, even with New York in the rankings. To do this, however, they should come from behind, because the Bewers took a 1-0 lead in the second half of the 3rd inning. However, the Reds were in the task. They tied the match in the next inning and they took the lead in the 6th by scoring two points. From there it was all bullpen, all the time, and neither teams would score again when Cincinnati won to go to 82-78 and bind the Mets in the rankings.
However, that draw is not really a draw. Cincinnati owns the tiebraker, which means that the Mets actually have to close the season with more victories than the Reds to make the play -offs. Cincinnati just has to be in a draw with the Mets, Diamondbacks or both to secure a play -off place.
Arizona played in San Diego and did not start until both the Reds and the Mets Games were already completed. The Diamondbacks scored a point in both the 1st and the 3rd innings, but saw the Padres plate five points in the 4th largely to a Fernando Tatis Jr. Grand Slam with two out. San Diego later took a collection on another run to bring the score to 6-2. Arizona scored twice in the 8th and had loaded the bases, but could not add because Mason Miller chased everyone. De Padres scored a point in the second half of the inning and held up for a 7-4 victory. The loss by the Diamondbacks eliminated them out of the Playoff race, because the most they could do, are stuck with the Reds, and in that case they would lose the tiebreaker.
That only leaves the Reds and the Mets in the Playoff race. A victory from Cincinnati combined with a loss by New York would achieve a play -off place for the Reds. A loss of Cincinnati on Saturday and a victory by the Mets would still leave a chance for the Reds open. In that situation, Cincinnati should win and lose New York to make the play -offs.
Cincinnati will compete against the Brewers on Fox as the national game of the week at 7:15 pm et. Unfortunately, if you are in the area of Columbus, your local Fox station will not wear the game, because the game of Cleveland Guardians is chosen by that affiliate.
The Miami play the Mets earlier in the day. With a 16:10 pm et starts the chance that the Reds will know whether they can conquer or not by the time they take the field.
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