T.J. Zeuch roughed up in Cincinnati Reds debut, New York Mets complete sweep

NEW YORK – T.J. Zeuch’s Cincinnati Reds debut quickly turned ugly, allowing the first three batters to reach base, and Wednesday’s series finale against the New York Mets descended into disaster at Citi Field.

It was all phases at fault in a 10-2 loss. Zeuch, who grew up a Reds fan in nearby Mason, gave up six runs on six hits, two walks and two hit batsmen. The bullpen didn’t pitch any better. There were defensive mistakes. The offense failed to capitalize with runners on base.

Add it all up and it was the first time the Reds were swept by the Mets since 2016, and this three-game series didn’t include starts from Mets aces Max Scherzer or Jacob deGrom.

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"They’re playing with a lot of confidence," Reds Manager David Bell said of the Mets, who haven't trailed during their six-game winning streak. "We really ran into a good team, but a hot team, as well. A tough spot."

The Reds entered this series with wins in 16 of their last 25 games and a 6-1-1 record in their last eight series, but they were overmatched by a first-place Mets team with a depleted roster following the trade deadline. One of the effects of trading Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle at the trade deadline, along with an injury to Hunter Greene, is Reds starters giving up 13 runs in 14 innings (8.36 ERA) during the three-game series.

It was Zeuch’s first time pitching in the Majors since June 17, 2021 when he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. The 2016 first-round pick was thrilled to put on a Reds uniform for the first time, but the 6-foot-7 right-hander had trouble putting away hitters with two strikes.

"Getting back in the big leagues and pitching in the big leagues again is, obviously, great, but I wish I would have given us a better chance to win," Zeuch said. "I thought I got ahead of guys and didn’t execute those pitches when I was ahead. Too many free passes whether it was by walk or hit by pitch."

Zeuch gave up two runs in the first inning, which felt like a small victory when the first three batters reached base. He was in a jam with runners on second and third, no outs and in a 3-0 count to cleanup batter Daniel Vogelbach, but he limited the damage to a sacrifice fly.

In Zeuch’s second time through the Mets lineup, in the second inning, he surrendered three consecutive singles with two outs to Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Vogelbach. Lindor fought from a 0-2 count to drive in two runs, and Vogelbach capped the three-run inning with a single up the middle in a 2-2 count.

"I was just trying to do too much in those two-strike counts," said Zeuch, who required 91 pitches to record 12 outs. "I think I did a good job of getting ahead of guys and trusting my stuff to do that. I think when I got in those two-strike counts, I was trying to make pitches. I was trying to make stuff nasty and make them swing and miss instead of just trusting my stuff and letting it do what it does."

Tyler Naquin, one of the five players the Reds dealt at the trade deadline, crushed a solo homer to open the third inning, a no-doubter to right field. It was Naquin’s third homer in 10 games with the Mets, a 439-foot blast on a low cutter in a two-strike count.

Zeuch, wearing No. 67, grew up watching Ken Griffey Jr., Sean Casey and Adam Dunn play for the Reds, his favorite players. Did he have any private moments when he celebrated playing for his hometown team before the game?

"I think that moment kind of came when I first got here in the locker room (Monday), seeing all the Reds stuff, putting on the Reds stuff in the big leagues for the first time," he said. "It was great. I tried to go out there and give us our best chance to win, and I just didn’t do that."

Things didn’t improve when the Reds turned to their bullpen. Reiver Sanmartin allowed a two-out double to Naquin in the fifth inning and it turned into a run on a throwing error. Jose Barrero tried to make a throw on the run to prevent an infield single and his throw bounced past Joey Votto at first base into the Mets’ dugout.

The first five batters reached base against Reds reliever Ian Gibaut in the sixth inning, including a two-run double by Vogelbach down the first-base line. Lindor, Alonso and Vogelbach, the Nos. 2-4 hitters in the Mets lineup, combined for seven hits, six RBI and four runs. Lindor matched a franchise record by scoring a run in 13 consecutive games.

"I think it has a lot to do with that team," Bell said. "Good hitters, good players and also just swinging the bat really well, scoring a lot of runs right now."

Trailing 6-2 in the fifth inning against Mets starter Taijuan Walker, the Reds brought the tying run to the plate with two outs after a walk, single and hit by pitch. It was a chance to erase a miserable start and build on their two-run fourth inning that was highlighted by an RBI double from Votto.

Donovan Solano swung at the first pitch and grounded out to the second baseman.

All series, the Reds never took advantage of their best offensive opportunities. In the three games, they went 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left 29 runners on base.

"I don’t think that’s something to really focus on because those hits do come," Bell said. "It’s just more having good at-bats, get on base, creating those opportunities. They will come."

The Reds closed their 10-day, nine-game road trip through Miami, Milwaukee and New York with a 4-5 record. They’ll remain on the road for one more game, playing in the Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, on Thursday, but they’ll serve as the home team against the Chicago Cubs.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds swept by Mets as T.J. Zeuch gets roughed up in Cincinnati debut