Vientos hits second 2-run homer in 10th to lift Mets over Reds 6-4 for 8th straight win

NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Vientos hit a pair of two-run homers, including a leadoff shot in the 10th inning that sent the New York Mets past the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Friday night for their eighth consecutive victory.

New York hasn’t trailed in 63 innings and is riding its longest winning streak since an eight-game run in August 2019. Vientos also connected in the first for the Mets, who remained tied with rival Atlanta for the last National League wild card.

“I think September's the right time to get hot,” Vientos said.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz and younger brother Alexis, the Reds' ace reliever, pitched in the same game for the first time in their All-Star careers.

Edwin Díaz struck out all three batters in the top of the ninth, fanning Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer with 100 mph fastballs. Alexis Díaz worked a hitless bottom of the ninth to keep the score tied.

“We both did good,” Edwin Díaz said, grinning. “So he can’t say anything to me, I can’t say anything to him.”

Afterward, they took photos on the field with about 20 proud family members — including their parents.

“It was a very special day,” said Alexis Díaz, with teammate Nick Martinez translating from Spanish to English. “It was an emotional moment.”

With automatic runner Brandon Nimmo on second base, Vientos drove a 2-2 fastball from Justin Wilson (1-5) clocked at 97 mph to left field for his 24th home run and second game-ending drive this season.

“I knew I was going to get an opportunity. I feel like I kind of want the opportunity in those situations and when I got it I was like, yes, let’s do this,” Vientos said. “We were confident that we were going to win that game.”

The 24-year-old third baseman tossed his bat aside and then his helmet high in the air as he approached home plate, where jubilant teammates swarmed him with glee, doused him in liquid — and ripped off his jersey.

“I don't know if I believe in magic, but I think we have the energy and the right mindset going into this month because we're hungry and we want to make it to the playoffs,” Vientos said.

Jose Buttó (7-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. New York's bullpen, a suspect unit much of the season, has a 0.72 ERA over 25 innings during the winning streak.

Cincinnati was coming off a three-game sweep of AL West-leading Houston and had won four in a row overall.

De La Cruz and TJ Friedl each connected for a two-run homer off Mets starter Sean Manaea that tied the game.

De La Cruz went deep in the fourth following a leadoff walk to Jonathan India. Friedl evened it 4-all with two outs in the seventh when Manaea hung a 78 mph sweeper.

That was it for Manaea, who allowed three hits and struck out nine. The left-hander, who has blossomed into New York's top starter this season, was given a warm ovation from the crowd of 25,335 as he walked off the mound.

The Mets went ahead 4-2 in the sixth on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Jose Iglesias and new dad J.D. Martinez. Pete Alonso started the two-out rally, reaching on a double when his drive squirted out of Jake Fraley's glove as the right fielder attempted to complete a tumbling catch in the corner.

“There’s never panic. We’re never out of the game. That’s the feeling,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “There’s a lot of different ways that we can create runs.”

Vientos gave the Mets a 2-0 lead nine pitches into the game when he homered off opener Fernando Cruz.

Francisco Lindor was aboard after a soft leadoff single that extended his hitting streak to 16 games, setting a career high. Lindor also pushed his on-base streak to 34 games, another career best and the longest active run in the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: 2B Jeff McNeil was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth, one inning after getting hit by a 74 mph curveball. McNeil appeared to get plunked on his protective padding, but the team announced he exited with a bruised right wrist and will undergo testing Saturday. ... RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf) will throw another bullpen Saturday. Senga threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session Wednesday and hopes to return from the 60-day injured list when eligible Sept. 25. … Martinez was back in the lineup at DH after being reinstated from the paternity list on the off day Thursday. He missed a three-game sweep of Boston from Monday to Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (7-9, 4.27 ERA) starts Saturday against RHP Jakob Junis (4-0, 3.13) in the middle game of the series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Williamson pitches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias hits a run-scoring single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell reaches for the ball from pitcher Brandon Williamson during a pitching change in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias (11) reacts behind Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India (6) after hitting a run scoring single and then advancing to second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso, center, scores a run past Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts with Spencer Steer (7) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts after being taken out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets pitcher Jose Butto reacts during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) rounds the bases past Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after hitting a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos hits a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Wall Street was mixed early Monday as optimism over a potentially big rate cut from the Federal Reserve this week boosted most sectors, with the exception of technology stocks.

Futures for the S&P 500 were unchanged before the bell, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked 0.2% higher. Futures for the technology-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 0.3%.

Apple was down 2.4% early, while chipmaker Micron was dragged down about 3%.

Stocks were broadly supported by the bond market, where Treasury yields eased ahead of the Fed’s meeting. The unanimous expectation on Wall Street is for the Fed to deliver the first cut to interest rates in more than four years on Wednesday, and traders are rekindling hopes it may offer bigger-than-usual relief.

Many economists would like to see the Fed announce a half-point rate cut this week, party because they think the officials should have begun cutting rates at their previous meeting in July. Wall Street traders on Friday signaled their expectation that the Fed will carry out at least two half-point cuts by year’s end, according to futures prices.

The Fed has been keeping its main interest rate at a two-decade high to slow the economy enough to stifle high inflation. With inflation having eased substantially from its peak two summers ago, the Fed has said it can focus more on bolstering the slowing job market and economy.

The Fed faces a balancing act in cutting rates. Lowering them relieves pressure on the economy but can also fuel more inflation. Reports last week showed some underlying upward pressure on prices. That initially pushed traders to ratchet back expectations for the size of the Fed’s upcoming move.

On Friday, though, traders were seeing roughly a coin flip’s chance that the Fed could deliver a large cut of half of a percentage point, instead of the more traditional quarter of a point, according to data from CME Group. The federal funds rate is currently sitting in a range of 5.25% to 5.50%.

Shares of Boeing were somewhat stable after Friday's decline, which was triggered by aircraft assembly workers who walked off the job. The ratings agency Fitch said a prolonged strike could lead to a ratings downgrade for the troubled aircraft manufacturer.

In Europe, France’s CAC 40 and Britain's FTSE 100 were flat at midday, while Germany’s DAX lost 0.2%.

In Asian trading, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng swung between gains and losses during the day, closing 0.3% higher at 17,422.12 after data released over the weekend showed China’s economy slowed further in August. Factory output, retail sales, and investment failed to meet expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate unexpectedly surged to a six-month high, adding to challenges.

“The drums of a deepening economic slowdown are beating louder, and it’s time for China’s leadership to decide whether to step up or risk sliding further into stagnation,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3% to 8,121.60.

Markets in Japan, mainland China and South Korea were closed for holidays.

In currency trading, the Japanese yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar, which fell to 140.03 yen from 140.82 yen. The dollar briefly dipped below 140 yen for the first time in more than a year. The euro cost $1.1124, inching up from $1.1076.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude gained 65 cents to $68.30 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 56 cents to $72.17 a barrel.

On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% for a fifth straight gain. It is just 0.7% below its all-time high set in July. Rallies for Microsoft, Broadcom and other big technology stocks helped it claw back almost all its recent losses, the worst in nearly 18 months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 0.7% and the Nasdaq composite added 0.7%.

FILE - The American flag hangs from the front of the New York Stock Exchange on Sept. 10, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

FILE - A currency trader passes by a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

FILE - A person looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm in Tokyo, on Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)