CINCINNATI — Taking two out of three games from the New York Mets is good. However, Sunday’s 3-2 loss for the Reds is a missed opportunity to earn a huge sweep of a good Mets team and further dent into the National League Wild Card race.

The last time the Cincinnati Reds won a playoff series, Barry Larkin and Bret Boone were the middle infielders, and Jeff Brantley was closing games.

The Cincinnati Reds are five games over .500 for the first time in almost two years, but manager Terry Francona knows it's too early to put much stock in their record.

This was not a playoff team in October. Or a contender in September. This was the bad-bullpen, meh-lineup Nationals playing for nothing in July.

The Washington Nationals go for their first series sweep since May when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cincinnati Reds salvaged a .500 record on their six-game homestand when they took a series victory over the reeling New York Mets on Thursday.. Against the Mets, it was a three-game series ...