Mets Entering Important Three-Game Series Against NL East-Rival Phillies

The New York Mets were able to salvage its three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with a dominant 9-1 win on Wednesday and now turn its attention to the Philadelphia Phillies for three games.

After getting embarrassed in the first game of the series and losing a close one in the middle game, the Mets exploded with three multi-run innings, beginning in the third.

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Left fielder Juan Soto, second baseman Marcus Semien and first baseman Mark Vientos had RBI singles to put New York up 3-0 before Reds left fielder JJ Bleday hit a sacrifice fly for Cincinnati’s lone run in the bottom half of the third.

Vientos hit a sacrifice fly followed by an RBI single from designated hitter Francisco Alvarez and a two-run double by center fielder A.J. Ewing to put New York on top 7-1.

Third baseman Bo Bichette stayed hot, driving in a run on his third hit of the game and Soto doubled him in to put the final touches on the 9-1 victory in the eighth.

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Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean bounced back with a strong start after struggling with walks over his last handful of starts. He tossed seven innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the year.

Reds lefty Nick Lodolo was shelled by the Mets offense, allowing seven runs on 11 hits and two walks while fanning two over 4.2 innings of work.

A series win against the Phillies would be huge for the Mets and it’s a chance to make up some ground in the National League East and wild card. Left-hander Sean Manaea gets the ball for New York while right-hander Aaron Nola toes the rubber for Philadelphia in the opener Thursday.

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Manaea is 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 51 strikeouts to 17 walks through 15 games (one start, 49 innings). Manaea had been the bulk man for several openers but logged his first official start of the season his last time out against the first-place Atlanta Braves and was outstanding despite taking the loss.

The veteran southpaw threw six innings and allowed just two runs on four hits with six strikeouts to earn the quality start.

Nola has been hit hard this season, posting a 3-4 record with a 5.86 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 71 strikeouts to 24 walks while allowing 13 home runs. He last worked against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with three punchouts over 4.2 innings in a no-decision effort.

Nola has faced the Mets 30 times in his career and is 11-10 with a 3.42 ERA with 218 strikeouts.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. EDT on MLB Network, MLB.TV and regional sports networks.