Juan Soto's gutsy baserunning pays off in huge spot as Mets sneak by Reds to avoid sweep
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Juan Soto bolted without hesitation, using his legs more so than his bat to help a Mets team in dire need of a run in Sunday's eighth inning.
The Reds had the infield drawn in with one out and runners on second and third.
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Luis Torrens' sharp grounder to second baseman Matt McLain didn't deter Soto, who broke from third and slid headfirst across the plate just ahead of Tyler Stephenson's swipe for the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory over the Reds at Citi Field.
The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak in winning for only the 11th time in 31 games.
7 Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) slides safely into home plate during the eighth inning against the Reds on July 20, 2025.
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7 Juan Soto is at third base during the eighth inning of the Mets' July 20 win.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
With the Mets ahead 2-1 with two outs in the eighth and the tying run at first base, manager Carlos Mendoza summoned Edwin Díaz.
But Díaz walked Elly De La Cruz and allowed an infield single to Austin Hays before drilling Spencer Steer with a fastball to force in the tying run.
After Soto walked leading off the bottom of the inning and reached third on Jeff McNeil's double, Torrens' grounder brought in the run.
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7 Luisangel Acuña hits a double during the Mets' win against the Reds on July 20.
Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Ryne Stanek got the final three outs for the save.
The afternoon was a slog for the Mets, who had only one extra-base hit and watched Francisco Lindor extend his hitless drought to 21 at-bats.
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Also, Pete Alonso was absent from the starting lineup due to a right hand contusion but entered the game in the seventh as a defensive replacement at first base for Mark Vientos.
7 Edwin Díaz reacts after hitting a better during the Mets' win against the Reds on July 20.
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
7 Luisangel Acuña reacts after hitting a double during the Mets' win against the Reds on July 20.
Robert Sabo for the NY Post
David Peterson, five days removed from his first All-Star game appearance, gave the Mets six superb innings in which the Reds managed only an unearned run against him.
The lefty allowed four hits, one walk and had a hit batsman with four strikeouts over 93 pitches.
Luisangel Acuña's throwing error allowed the Reds to score an unearned run in the first.
TJ Friedl led off the game with a grounder that Acuña fielded and threw low and wide of first base.
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7 Elly De La Cruz reacts at third base during the Reds' loss to the Mets on July 20.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
7 The Mets celebrate after Luis Torrens drives in the game-winning run July 20.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Vientos, in his third career start at first, couldn't glove it.
Consecutive singles from Matt McLain and De la Cruz ensued to give the Reds a 1-0 lead before Peterson stabilized by getting Hays to ground into a double play.
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Brandon Nimmo's RBI single in the third tied it 1-1.
Acuña's sacrifice bunt moved Tyrone Talor to second following a leadoff single.
Nimmo then delivered for his 54th RBI this season.
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Acuña smashed an RBI double in the fifth that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.
Brett Baty stroked a leadoff single and stole second with one out before Acuña's shot to left brought in the run.
But Acuña was left stranded as Nimmo struck out and Andrew Abbott retired Lindor.
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