The 2013 National League Central champion has yet to be decided with three games left in the regular season. Unfortunately for the Reds, they know they won’t be walking away with the title.
Combined with a Cardinals win, the Reds were eliminated from the division race with a 1-0 loss to the Mets on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. The loss marked Cincinnati’s second in a row at a time when the club could ill afford any setbacks if it hoped to win the NL Central.
One day after missed opportunities cost the Reds in a 4-2 loss, they struggled to even put themselves in position to score in the series finale. Cincinnati barely threatened Mets starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, advancing a runner past second just one time the entire game. The Reds notched only four hits, while drawing three walks and a hit-by-pitch.
“We’ve just got to figure out a way to get that big hit, especially with two outs,” manager Dusty Baker said. “That’s so very important. Most of the time, whoever gets the most two-out hits wins. Going to the playoffs, there will be a number of these situations. We just have to remain confident and remain calm, and just believe you can do it.”
The playoffs have been a certainty for the Reds since opening the series with a 3-2 win on Monday, but heading into Wednesday, Cincinnati still had its eyes on the pennant despite trailing St. Louis by three games with four to go.
Although an opponent and location are still to be determined in the final weekend of the regular season, the Reds now know for sure they’re set to play in next Tuesday’s NL Wild Card Game.
Going to the playoffs is nice, but the Reds wanted more.
“Go in that clubhouse and you’ll see those guys are down,” Baker said. “But they’re not out. It’s OK to be down. Like my dad always told me, ‘It’s OK to be down, just don’t stay down.'”
On Wednesday, Cincinnati’s offense never really got going, spoiling a stellar start from Mat Latos. The lack of run support was nothing new for Latos, as the Reds have scored a combined four runs in his last five losses, including two shutouts.
But the 25-year-old right-hander gave Cincinnati every chance to win on Wednesday.
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