The New York Mets scored early and often on Saturday, beating the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati to clinch the National League East, the first trip to the playoffs for New York since 2006.
New York Mets clinch National League East with win in Cincinnati
New York is 36-17 (.679) in its last 53 games.
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Lucas Duda hit a grand slam in the first inning, and Curtis Granderson added a solo shot in the second, giving the Mets an early lead and providing more than enough cushion for Matt Harvey on the mound.
Harvey allowed two runs and pitched into the seventh inning, striking out six for the victory, his 13th win of the season. However, the start also pushed him over the magical 180-inning mark, now at 183⅓ innings in his first year back from Tommy John surgery.
David Wright added a three-run home run in the ninth to provide the final margin.
This is the sixth division title and eighth playoff appearance in Mets franchise history, and the first since winning the NL East in 2006.
Six teams have now clinched playoff spots, with the Mets joining the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. So far, only the Mets and Royals have clinched divisions.
The Mets will play the National League West winner in the National League Division Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers entered play Saturday with a magic number of two to clinch that division. Should the Mets and Dodgers end the regular season with the same record, New York would get home field advantage by virtue of beating Los Angeles in four of their seven matchups this season.
The NLDS will begin on Fri., Oct. 9, and will be televised by TBS.
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