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.

Since June 1, the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen has only been charged with five total losses. The Reds are mostly winning and losing with the performances of their rotation, but still it feels like middle and low-leverage relief is an area where the Reds need more production.

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.

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.

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.

Jake Fraley matched a career high with three hits and drove in two runs as the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 5-2.

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,

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.