CINCINNATI — This is how it ends. Not with a thunderbolt but with a whimper.
The Mets went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, struck out 12 times, had a terrible miscue in the field by Todd Frazier in the first inning and managed only three hits.
The run that beat them came on a two-out Christian Colon single up the middle in the eighth off a 3-2 Seth Lugo curve ball, a simple slap up the middle by a player who was just called up Monday.
The Reds came away with the 3-2 victory Saturday at Great American Ball Park when closer Raisel Iglesias cut through the final three Mets hitters, striking out Robinson Cano swinging, Wilson Ramos on a called strike three then ending the day by catching Michael Conforto looking at another strike three to end the game.