The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets closed out their three-game set at Great American Ball Park with a classic pitcher’s duel on September 7, 2025. When the dust settled, the Reds emerged with a 3-2 victory, clinching the series behind an absolute masterpiece from their ace, Hunter Greene.
While the final score was close, the story of this game was painted in radar gun readings and strikeout totals. Here is a deep dive into the player stats that defined this NL showdown.
The Main Event: Greene vs. Sproat
This game featured a fascinating contrast in pitching styles and experience.
Hunter Greene, SP (Cincinnati Reds) – The Dominator
Line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K
Game Score: 82
Hunter Greene was nothing short of electric. Pitching in front of the home crowd, the flamethrower tied his season high with 12 strikeouts over seven innings of one-hit baseball. He completely neutralized the Mets’ lineup, mixing 100+ mph fastballs with devastating sliders. The only blemish on his record was a solo home run to Brett Baty in the third inning. After that, Greene locked in, retiring the side in order multiple times and keeping his pitch count efficient enough to go the distance into the 7th.
Brandon Sproat, SP (New York Mets) – The Hard-Luck Debutant
Line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Making his MLB debut, Brandon Sproat nearly made history. The 24-year-old rookie carried a no-hit bid into the 6th inning. He looked composed, utilizing a heavy sinker to keep Reds hitters off balance. However, the wheels came off quickly in the bottom of the 6th. After walking TJ Friedl to lead off the inning, Sproat surrendered a single to Noelvi Marte, followed by an RBI double to Elly De La Cruz and a run-scoring single to Austin Hays. Despite the rough finish, Sproat showed why he is a top prospect, striking out 7 in his debut.
Offensive Heroes: The Reds’ Bottom of the 6th
The Reds didn’t need a barrage of home runs to win this one; they relied on timely hitting.
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Elly De La Cruz (SS, CIN): 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 Run. De La Cruz was the difference-maker. His two-out RBI double in the 6th plated Marte to break the 1-1 tie and gave Cincinnati the lead for good.
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Austin Hays (LF, CIN): 1-for-2, 2 RBI. Hays continued his hot hitting, delivering a sacrifice fly in the 4th to tie the game and following up with an RBI single in the 6th to put the Reds up 3-1.
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Noelvi Marte (RF, CIN): 1-for-3, 1 Run, 1 BB. Marte served as the catalyst in the winning rally, drawing a walk and scoring the tying run in the 4th before breaking up the no-hitter with a single in the 6th.
Mets’ Lone Bright Spot: The Long Ball
The New York offense was handcuffed by Greene for most of the afternoon, but they showed fight in the late innings.
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Brett Baty (3B, NYM): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI. Baty was the sole Met to figure out Hunter Greene. He turned on a slider in the top of the 3rd and sent it over the right-field wall to give the Mets a brief 1-0 lead.
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Juan Soto (RF, NYM): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI. With the Mets down to their last strike in the 9th, Soto launched a solo homer to center field off reliever Tony Santillan. It was a signature Soto moment, but the rally fell just short.
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Brandon Nimmo (CF, NYM): 1-for-3, 1 BB. Nimmo tried to spark a 9th-inning rally with a single, but Starling Marte grounded into a game-ending double play immediately after.
Bullpen and Defensive Notes
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Reds Bullpen: Nick Martinez and Tony Santillan combined for two innings of relief. Despite Santillan allowing Soto’s homer, he settled down to secure his 5th save of the year.
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Mets Bullpen: Reed Garrett and Tyler Rogers threw scoreless frames, but the damage was already done against Sproat. The Mets’ pen kept the game within reach, giving the offense a chance in the 9th.
Final Analysis
This game was a microcosm of what makes both teams dangerous. The Reds proved they can beat anyone when Hunter Greene is on the mound, relying on speed and power. For the Mets, the future looks bright if Brandon Sproat can build on his promising debut, but the offense needs to find ways to manufacture runs against elite pitching rather than relying solely on the long ball.
The Reds took the series 2-1, moving back above .500, while the Mets left Cincinnati holding onto the final NL Wild Card spot.
