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.

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets look to break their three-game home slide with a win against the Cincinnati Reds. New York has gone 33-16 at home and 55-44 overall. Mets pitchers have a collective 3.61 ERA, which ranks second in the NL.

Josh Bell hit his 13th home run, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams contributed RBI doubles during the decisive fifth inning, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-1. Riley

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds due to a right-hand contusion. Alonso has played in all 99 games this season for the Mets and has appeared in a franchise-record 353 consecutive regular-season games dating back to June 18,

Preview the July 20 matchup between the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

The Cincinnati Reds fell 3-2 to the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon. After tying the game at two in the top of the eighth, the Mets scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout to take the lead back in the bottom half of the inning.

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.

Juan Soto scored the go-ahead run after Edwin Diaz gave up the tying run in the eighth inning in the Mets' 3-2 win over the Reds on Sunday.