Reds’ Jonathan India’s 2-run homer sinks Grant Hartwig, Mets in series-opener

Two rising NL pitchers dueled under lights on the Citi Field mound Friday night. They each gave up big home runs and let their bullpens take it away.

In the end, neither one of them received a decision. Grant Hartwig (4-2) gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India in the seventh inning and the Mets lost 5-3 in the first game of a three-game set.

Right-hander Hunter Greene no-hit the Mets through four innings with Jeff McNeil finally breaking it up with a double to lead off the fifth. The Reds gave him a 3-0 lead after Spencer Steer took a two-run shot off left-hander David Peterson in the sixth, but it was Pete Alonso’s big blow that tied the game in the bottom of the frame.

Alonso’s 45th homer of the year puts him in sole possession of second place, six behind Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves and one ahead of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels.

The excitement of the lead was short-lived, but the Mets should be somewhat excited about the performance that left-hander David Peterson turned in.

“Pete presented himself in a very competitive outing and one we should have taken better advantage of,” said manager Buck Showalter.

Peterson held the Reds to three runs (two earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out 10 to match his career-high mark over 5 2/3 innings. More length would have been preferable, but he’ll have a few more turns through the rotation to show some efficiency.

Peterson went fastball-heavy, using his sinker and slider to finish off hitters. He got 15 swings and misses, much of them with the slider. His slider has always been his put-away pitch, but it wasn’t as effective earlier in the season. Now, the pitch looking and acting more like it used to.

“It’s got a different shape to it,” Showalter said of Peterson’s slider. “A lot of times, when people are getting too technical they’ll try to throw the ball through the catcher instead of to him. The slider is finishing and he’s and he’s trying to get it to the zone instead of through the zone.”

After seeing the results of some mechanical tweaks, Peterson has more confidence in the pitch now than he did earlier in the season.

“I think the last couple starts, I’ve felt like I’ve been able to throw it whenever,” Peterson said. “The other pitches complementing it and setting it up have been helpful. I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

The hope is that Peterson can be used as a back-end starter this season. He played that role this season, but not exceptionally well. He has shown improved command and a better ability to repeat his delivery since returning from Triple-A in August but he has yet to establish himself and solidify himself as a contender for a rotation spot next season.

A few more good starts this year and he could have the team decision-makers looking at him in a different light this winter.

“You want to finish strong and you want to go home with a very productive mindset as to how we finish the year,” Peterson said. “Obviously, things have not gone our way but you’ve got to look forward to what you’re doing personally, what we’re doing as a group and carry that into next year. There’s another year after this, so you’ve got to take the progress as much as you can into the offseason work and come back and be ready to fight.”

Ronny Mauricio made his first Major League start at third base. He made an error that allowed an unearned run to score in the fifth but also made a very strong, accurate throw to get Tyler Stephenson at first in the eighth inning.

The Mets threatened in the bottom of the inning putting two on with one out, but a familiar closer was called into the game early to keep them at bay. Alexis Diaz, the brother of injured Mets closer Edwin, sat down Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil to end the threat. Alexis remained in the game for the ninth, converting his 37th save of the season to put him in a tie for second.

The brothers have combined for 252 big league saves, the second-highest total recorded by brothers since saves became official in 1969 (Todd and Tim Worrell have the record with 327).