Jonah Tong surrendered three homers as Mets fall 6-3 to Reds

CINCINNATI — Jonah Tong allowed three home runs in his second major league start, and the New York Mets dropped a 6-3 decision to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday.

The 22-year-old right-hander, making the first turn of a Mets rotation sequence that also included Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, surrendered a two-run shot to Sal Stewart in the second inning and solo homers to Matt McClain in the third and Austin Hays in the fourth. Tong gave up only three hits, but all cleared the fence, and he was charged with four earned runs in the outing.

Tong’s encore was a notable step back from his major league debut, when he allowed one earned run and three unearned runs against the Miami Marlins. It was also striking against the backdrop of his minor-league dominance this season: in 113 2/3 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, Tong had yielded only two home runs. The Reds ripped three in 13 plate appearances on Saturday.

The loss left the Mets 76-66 and widened their deficit in the National League East to seven games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. The defeat also came on a night when New York began four games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the race for the final wild-card spot.

Cincinnati provided the bulk of its scoring against Tong and the Mets' early relievers, taking advantage of the long balls to build a lead the visitors could not overcome. New York managed three runs of its own but could not close the gap after the fourth inning.

Tong’s outing will likely be scrutinized for what it reveals about his transition to the majors. His minor-league track record this year included 22 starts in which he rarely surrendered runs or long balls, but Saturday’s results exposed a vulnerability to power swings in a crowded Cincinnati lineup.

Manager and team officials have not indicated roster changes stemming from the start, and the Mets continue to rely on a mix of starting-depth options as they pursue both a division title and a wild-card berth. New York’s schedule will test its pitching depth in the coming days as contenders press for playoff positioning.

The Reds returned several starters to the lineup and capitalized on opportunities against a rookie starter, using timely hitting rather than an extended barrage of base knocks. For Tong, the afternoon illustrated both the upside that earned him a promotion and the adjustments he will face as opponents compile scouting reports at the major-league level.

The Mets head into Sunday’s game looking to rebound while managing a tighter margin in the postseason race and assessing how Tong’s development fits into their pitching plans for the stretch run.