Mets 6, Reds 4
CINCINNATI -- Lucas Duda delivered a pair of run-scoring doubles and Daniel Murphy drove home the go-ahead run with a triple in the seventh as the New York Mets reduced their magic number to three with a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.
New York (86-67) increased its lead in the National League East to 7 1/2 games over the Washington Nationals who dropped their third straight to Baltimore on Thursday.
For a moment, it appeared Thursday's game would be a continuation of a miserable 3-6 homestand after Cincinnati tied the score 3-3 in the sixth when pinch-hitter Adam Duvall's hard grounder skipped past David Wright at third.
That abruptly ended Steven Matz' evening as the rookie right-hander was denied a bid to become the first Mets pitcher to win his first five career decisions.
Matz allowed three runs on 10 hits, while striking out eight with no walks.
But, Murphy picked him up with a triple to right off left-hander Manny Parra and right fielder Curtis Granderson sprinted first to home with the go-ahead run.
Center fielder Yoenis Cespedes ripped a single to center driving home Murphy and the Mets led 5-3.
Parra (1-2) allowed three runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Reds right fielder Jay Bruce hit his 26th homer off right-hander Hansel Robles in the eighth.
But, Mets closer Jeurys Familia shut the door in the ninth for his 42nd save. Eric Goedell (1-1) got the win.
Matz earned his first major league victory against Cincinnati on June 28.
Phillips, who homered off Matz in June, drove in a run with a single to put Cincinnati ahead 1-0 in the first.
The Reds were in position for an even bigger opening inning against the 24-year-old, but Matz fanned third baseman Todd Frazier and right fielder Jay Bruce to strand a pair of runners.
The Mets pounded rookie Josh Smith in the third, beginning with a single by Matz, who improved to 4-for-4 against Reds pitching.
Third baseman David Wright continued his torrid pace at the plate since coming off the disabled list with a RBI double to left-center.
Cespedes' sacrifice fly to center and a double into the right field corner by Duda handed New York a 3-1 lead.
Smith allowed three earned runs and seven hits in five frames.
Phillips' two-out RBI single in the fifth cut the Mets' lead to 3-2.
NOTES: Mets 3B Juan Uribe was cleared to play Thursday after suffering a chest contusion diving for a ball Sunday. He singled as a pinch-hitter Wednesday. ... Mets RHP Addison Reed pitched a scoreless seventh Thursday with RHP Tyler Clippard unavailable after working in three straight games. ... RHP Josh Smith made the 100th start this season by a Reds rookie Thursday, extending a single-season modern club record. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday. Hamilton leads the majors with 57 stolen bases but hasn't played since Sept. 16. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto reached base for the 41st consecutive game.