Mets clinch NL East division title

Heath Hembree (2-0) worked one inning for the win.

The New York Mets clinched the National League East title and their first playoff berth since 2006 by beating Cincinnati 10-2 on Saturday, with Lucas Duda hitting his first career grand slam.

NATIONALS 2, PHILLIES 1, 12 inn.: In Washington, Bryce Harper’s RBI double lift Washington. “It’s an unbelievable feeling”.

“It’s definitely pretty special”, Duda said.

“It’s been a long time”, Wright said. New York also has qualified for postseason play twice as a wild-card team.

Dilson Herrera and Kevin Plawecki hit rare home runs as the Mets enjoyed their first full day as division champions. Joey Votto got handcuffed on a grounder, his third-inning error opening the door for the Mets.

In late July, the Mets began to address their offensive woes by acquiring Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe from the Atlanta Braves.

“This is a different era at a different age, OK?” said Collins, who is the oldest manager in baseball at age 66. “He’s a big piece in the lineup”.

Right fielder Alex Rios had about three touches when it comes to the Royals, along with a run-producing quadruple inside a three-run 8th.

Giants outfielder Jarrett Parker went 3 for 5 with three home runs and seven RBIs in a 14-10 win over the Athletics.

Reds: INF/OF Kristopher Negron, who sustained a season-ending shoulder injury on September was transferred to the 60-day DL when Cincinnati claimed OF Tyler Holt off waivers from Cleveland. 625 winning percentage (25-15) all-time at Great American Ballpark is the highest among NL teams. “They’re not all that favorable”.

The road has been Syndergaard’s weak spot.

The Reds’ bullpen didn’t fare much better.

Martin Perez (3-6) allowed two runs – both unearned – and five hits in six innings.

Just a few hours after learning the Blue Jays ended their 22-year postseason drought thanks to their main competitors’ overlapping schedules, Bautista hit a three-run homer and Russell Martin added a two-run drive in a five-run first inning.

Daniel Murphy doubled and had an RBI single as he extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Ervin Santana (7-4) allowing one run and six hits in seven innings.

Ruben Tejada will remain the starting shortstop for now, filling in for the struggling Wilmer Flores. He had nine strikeouts and no walks, needing just 97 pitches to earn the win. “We all know he’s got great stuff, but I think he’s become a little bit better of a pitcher, not just a guy that rears back and throws hard”.

They’ve lost nine of their last 13 against the Mets, who sprayed beer and champagne all over the visitors’ clubhouse, then headed back onto the field to spray the several thousand New York fans who had cheered them on throughout the game. “There was blood in the water”, manager Bryan Price said. The rookie has made 21 starts and thrown 109 2-3 innings.

The Mets went into the game having clinched a tie for their sixth division championship since Major League Baseball split the National and American league into two divisions in 1969.

The Mets swept the season series with the Reds 7-0.

Rubby De La Rosa won for the third time in his last five starts in setting a career high for wins.

Reds: LHP John Lamb (1-3) has never faced the Mets.