Live Blog: New York Mets (46-36) vs. Cincinnati Reds (47-36)

FINAL: Reds (48-36) defeat the Mets (46-37) 8-6 to take game one of a three game set.

WP: Smith (2-1)

LP: Pelfrey (10-3)

Save: Cordero (23)

Bottom 9th: After Ruben Tejada grounded out to second against the newly inserted Francisco Cordero, Cordero walked David Wright. As the tying run at the plate, Ike Davis flyed out to Scott Rolen -- who made an over-the-shoulder catch for the second out of the inning. With Wright still at first, Jason Bay flyed out to Jonny Gomes to end the game Mets 6, Reds 8

Top 9th: In case you didn't realize it before, Jeff Francoeur has a canon. The right fielder assisted on a tagging Joey Votto -- who has three hits on the night -- to halt a Red challenge. Gomes grounded out to end the inning. Last chance for the Mets coming up. Mets 6, Reds 8

Bottom 8th: No help for Nieve. Cora Thole and Pagan all succumb to Rhodes. Mets 6, Reds 8

Top 8th: Prior to the game, Manuel said Nieve would be one of the only Met arms capable of going multiple innings. And he did just that. Nieve looked strong coming back from the extended stay off, getting another three consecutive outs. Mets 6, Reds 8

Bottom 7th: Mets struggling. Bay, Francoeur and Barajas all come up empty. Mets 6, Reds 8

Top 7th: Three up three down for Nieve. Coasting, now needs the Mets' bats help. Mets 6, Reds 8

Bottom Sixth: Nothing going for the Mets as they waste Angel Pagan at second. After stranding the centerfielder, the Mets remain down 8-6

Top Sixth: OK, Joey Votto. The All-Star snub continues his torrid streak homering to increase the Red lead to 8-6.

Bottom fifth: What an inning. Totaling eleven runs the Mets almost equated what the Reds did. By the end of the inning the Mets tallied five to draw within one. Here is how it broke down:

-Angel Pagan started it off with a solo home run.

-Then David Wright scored when Wood failed to field an Ike Davis ground ball. 

-After Smith relieved Wood after the starter walked Francoeur to put runners on first and second, Barajas singled to drive in Davis.

-Then, Cora doubled to drive in Francoeur and Barajas.

Fernando Nieve is relieving Valdes, as Valdes was pinch hit for unsuccessfully by Feliciano. Reds 7, Mets 6

Top fifth: On Pyrotechnichs night, the Citi Field brass must have saved it all for that frame. OK, to sum all of the action up, Manuel was ejected after a call which originally called Scott Rolen out with one out and runners on first and second was changed to a hit by pitch. Even here in the press box after multiple replay viewings there wasn't a consensus on the play.

So... with none out and the bases loaded, Pelfrey got Bruce and Gomes out. But, Pelfrey couldn't escape the inning and sent Mets fans into a frenzy. A bigger frenzy than their original reaction to Manuel getting tossed. Stubbs singled to left to score Cabrera and Votto. Miller then doubled to drive in Rolen and Stubbs. The pitcher Wood then tripled to drive in Stubbs.

By then, Pelfrey was pulled for Valdes. who ended the inning... Mets 1, Reds 7

Bottom 4th: Well, that's what happens when a pitcher ends the inning for you in a clutch spot. Pelfrey may be big, but the All-Star snub isn't big enough to give the Mets the lead in that situation. With two outs and Cora on third via a balk by Wood, Pelfrey grounds out to end the inning. Mets 1, Reds 1

Top 4th: After Scott Rolen advanced to third on a Jay Bruce double, Pelfrey beared down to get out Miller and Wood with the bases loaded to end the frame. Mets 1, Reds 1

Bottom 3rd: Wood is just rolling. Aside from that hiccup to start the game nothing much for the Reds. Through three... Mets 1, Reds 1

Top 3rd: Nothing really challenging against Pelfrey. Votto grounds out back to the big man to end the inning. Mets 1, Reds 1

Bottom 2nd: Wood strikes out Barajas, Pelfrey and Pagan after putting Cora on via a HBP. Mets 1, Reds 1

Top 2nd: Corky Miller grounds out into an inning ending double play.  Mets 1, Reds 1

Bottom 1st: Jason Bay RBI Single drives in David Wright, who started a two out rally after Pagan and Tejada were put out. After one... Mets 1, Reds 1

Top 1st: Joey Votto hits a solo homerun shot to give the Reds a 1-0 lead, and further make the argument that there is no way he should have been left off of the NL All Star team. PElfrey solid other than the deep blast from Votto. Mets 0, Reds 1

Hey everyone, live here from Citi Field with tonight's Live Blog as the Mets kick off a three game homestand with the National League Central leading Cincinnati Reds. The action is set to kick off in less than ten minutes. Until then, here are tonight's lineups.

Note: Righty Aaron Harang was scratched from tonight's scheduled start. Travis Wood, the lefty who was scheduled to start tomorrow, will start tonight in his place.

OK, here are the lineups:

Pagan CF

Cora-2B

Wright-3B

Davis-1B

Bay-LF

Thole-C

Francoeur-RF

Tejada-SS

Pelfrey-RHP

Phillips 2B

Cabrera SS

Votto 1B

Rolen 3B

Gomes LF

Bruce RF

Stubbs CF

Miller C

Wood LHP