Cincinnati ( Associated Press) — Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor helped the New York Mets beat the lowly Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Monday night.
Taijuan Walker (7-2) scored nine runs in six innings as the NL East-led New York secured a second consecutive victory after four losses in five games. The Mets improved to 50-30, and ace right-hander Max Scherzer returned on Tuesday night after being sidelined by a strained left oblique muscle.
Nick Senzel and Brandon Drury finished last to Cincinnati, losing for the fifth time in six games.
The Mets got some decent swing against hard-throwing rookie Hunter Greene.
Nimmo hits a big three-run drive in the second. The Mets are 39-9 this season, scoring first.
In the third, Drury drove a 0–1 pitch to the right from Walker for a three-run par. Homer of the opposite field was Dury’s career-best 17th. He was with the Mets last season, but had only 84 at-bats.
Lindor put the Mets ahead with his 14th homer, a solo drive over a 99-mph pitch from Green in fifth. It was the major league-leading 22nd homer allowed by Green (3–10) this season.
Dominic Smith gave the Mets a three-run cushion with a double of two runs off Revere Sanmartin.
Walker was charged with three runs and four hits. Seth Lugo finished ninth for his third defense.
The win was No. 1,601 for Mets manager Buck Showalter. He is one win shy of Fred Clarke, ranked 21st on the career list.
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Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (strain response in the right shoulder bone) is set to start his second minor league rehab on Friday. He is not expected to return to the Mets’ rotation until after the All-Star break. … LHP David Peterson is expected to come off the paternity list to begin Wednesday’s series finale in Cincinnati.
Reds: RHP Art Warren was placed on the IL with a right flexor pronator strain. C Mark Kolojswari was recalled. … c Tyler Stephenson began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville and took five innings at 1 for 2 at the plate. Stephenson broke his right thumb on June 9 at the wrong tip.
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Scherzer (5-1, 2.54 ERA) makes his first start for the Mets since dropping with a right oblique stretch on May 18 against St. Scherzer’s 1.84 ERA against the Reds is tied for the ninth-lowest score among all pitchers with at least 50 innings against an opponent. Reds rookie LHP Nick Lodolo (1-2, 5.52 ERA) debuted in April after suffering a lower back strain.
