Jake Fraley's 3-hit day powered the Reds past the Mets 5-2 on July 20, 2025. See how Cincinnati extended its winning streak to four in a key NL matchup.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Make it four in a row! The Cincinnati Reds are officially heating up, and their latest victory, a 5-2 handling of the New York Mets at Citi Field, proves this team has found its groove. Riding a wave of clutch hitting and solid pitching, the Reds climbed to a season-best five games over .500, with Saturday's hero being none other than Jake Fraley, who put the offense on his back.
Jake Fraley matched a career high by collecting three hits and driving in two runs, providing the spark Cincinnati needed to rally past the Mets.
The Reds' offense was powered by Jake Fraley, who had a day to remember. Fraley was a menace all afternoon, matching his career high with three crucial hits. He got things started in the third with a double and came around to score on an error. He wasn't done, delivering the go-ahead, tiebreaking RBI single in the fourth and adding an insurance run with another RBI double in the sixth. It was exactly the kind of clutch performance the Reds needed to solve the Mets.
This win wasn't just another notch in the belt; it's a statement. The four-game winning streak has pushed the Reds to 52-47 on the season. While they still sit third in a tough NL Central, 7.5 games behind the Cubs, this is the kind of momentum that can close gaps quickly. The consistency from stars like Elly De La Cruz, who continues to lead the team with a .280 average, 18 homers, and 64 RBIs, provides the steady foundation for these hot streaks.
A great offensive day needs solid pitching to back it up, and the Reds got just that. Starter Nick Martinez battled through five innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five to earn his eighth win of the season. But the real drama came in the ninth. Emilio Pagán entered with the game on the line and calmly shut down the heart of the Mets' order, retiring Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso in succession to lock down his 21st save. That's how you close out a big road win.
While the big-league club is firing on all cylinders, the future continues to look incredibly promising. MLB Pipeline recently ranked the Reds' farm system as the 11th best in baseball. This system is loaded with talent, featuring Top 100 prospect Cam Collier and a host of other exciting names like Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Sal Stewart, and Chase Petty. It's a comforting thought that while the Reds are winning now, the talent pipeline is still flowing strong.
With four straight wins and a palpable sense of confidence, the Reds will look to keep the good times rolling and secure a series sweep against the Mets. This team is playing its best baseball of the season at a crucial time. If they can maintain this level of execution, the rest of the NL Central should be looking over their shoulders. It's a great time to be a Reds fan.
