Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. CINCINNATI Edwin Daz surveyed the scene in Friday nights ninth inning and realized he had been here before. Bases loaded, nobody out, game on the line. I knew I had two choices: Win the game or lose the game, Daz said after the Mets beat the Reds 5-4 at Great American Ball Park. I made the right choice: Win the game. All it took was a new pair of spikes which he changed into on the field with one out in the inning and the bases loaded for Daz to finish the job, holding the Mets one-run lead. He struck out Elly De La Cruz before racing to cover first base for the final out on Gavin Luxs slow grounder to Luisangel Acua. New York Mets pitcher Edwin Daz (39) reacts after the final out of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 5, 2025. Aaron Doster-Imagn Images New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte, third from right, shortstop Francisco Lindor, second from Justin Brazeau Jersey right, pitcher Edwin Daz (39) and catcher Francisco Alvarez, fourth from right, laugh as they walk off the field after defeating the Cincinnati Reds. AP New York Mets pitcher Edwin Daz, right, changes his cleats after one of the spikes broke in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Cincinnati. AP Explore More The Houdini act started a batter ahead of De La Cruz with a strikeout of Noelvi Marte. CHECK OUT THE AND Until he walked TJ Friedl to load the bases, Daz said he was slipping on the mound. What he didnt realize was the front spike was mi sing on his left shoe. The new pair of spikes helped cure his allergic reaction to the strike zone (Daz walked two batters in the inning) and got the Mets a victory to begin this key series that holds NL wild-card race implications. Juan Soto reacts during the Mets game against the Reds on Sept. 5. AP After I changed it, I started feeling better, Daz said. The Reds, desperate for wins to stay afloat in their pursuit of the NLs third wild card, fell six games behind the Mets in that race. The Giants, sandwiched in between the two teams, trail the Mets by four games. The Mets got a strong bullpen performance overall, as Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers and Daz combined for 3 / scorele s innings behind a mediocre David Peterson start. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Stanek, who had been relegated mostly to low-leverage situations after a brutal August, entered with two runners on base in the sixth and walked a batter before escaping to preserve the Mets 5-4 lead. The whole bullpen, but Stanek in particular, Im proud of him, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Were going to need all of those guys, and today they stepped up big time. Peterson survived 5 / innings in which he allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk. It was hardly Petersons best but a step in the right direction after his clunker against Miami last weekend that ended after two innings with eight runs allowed. David Peterson throws a pitch during the Mets Sept. 5 game against the Reds. AP The Mets jumped on left-hander Andrew Abbott for three runs in the first inning. Mark Vientos brought in the first run with an infield single, and Brandon Nimmos sacrifice fly a ball on which center fielder Friedl reached over the fence to steal a home run gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. Starling Martes ensuing single extended the lead. The rally started with Francisco Lindors leadoff walk and Juan Sotos single. Soto also stole third base ahead of Vientos RBI roller. Vientos homered leading off the third to give the Mets a 4-0 lead. It was the first blast of the month for Vientos, who hit eight in August after delivering just six in the seasons first three months. Nimmo went for a sliding catch on Friedls sinking line drive in the third, and the ball bounced behind him for a double to put runners on second and third. Noelvi Marte followed with a sacrifice fly that decreased the Reds deficit to 4-1. Starling Marte connects on an RBI single during the Mets Sept. 5 game against the Reds. Getty Images Brandon Nimmo of the New York Mets dives to catch a fly ball hit by KeBryan Hayes of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park on September 5, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Getty Images The Mets got the run back in the fourth on consecutive doubles by Lindor and Soto. It was the 92nd RBI of the season for Soto, who is second on the team behind Pete Alonso (113) in that category. Peterson struggled through the fourth, allowing a two-run double to Tyler Stephenson before KeBryan Hayes sacrifice fly sliced the Mets lead to 5-4. Austin Hays and Spencer Steer singled in succe sion to start the rally. Nimmos throw home beat Stephenson by plenty on Hayes fly to left, but Francisco Alvarez was late in applying the tag a call that was upheld following a Mets replay challenge. Peterson said it was huge to win the first game in this September series against a team chasing the Mets. We obviously know where they are at, Peterson said. But at the same time, were not really focused on that. Kevin Shattenkirk Jersey