Every game in the 162-game Major League Baseball season counts the same. But once the season resumes after the All-Star Break, the games count a little more. The Pennant Race is officially underway. It's been underway since July 1st.

On Monday night, Francisco Alvarez made his return after spending nearly a month with Triple-A Syracuse and a big double and scored two runs. Juan Soto tied the game with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning and Brett Baty scored the go-ahead run on a ground ball to the left side one inning later.

Pain was the price of admission to MLB history Friday night for Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl. The leadoff man was hit by a pitch three times in a 8-4 win over the New York Mets, tying a major-league record. The Mets have won 3 in a row after losing 14 of 17 games and falling to second place in the NL East.

Lately, every day has felt like a grind, and if changing the lineup doesn't work, then the Mets have to seek other methods.

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.

NEW YORK — The box score won’t show it, but catcher Luis Torrens ’s swing in the ninth inning, a fielder’s choice, delivered the game-winning run for the Mets on Sunday. With the game tied at two in the eighth inning and right fielder Juan Soto on third, Torrens lined a 102.7 mph one-hopper that was picked by the second baseman.

The New York Mets bounced back on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field, snapping a two-game losing streak. The narrow win marked a return to form for New York after a rough patch and helped them avoid a sweep in their first home series after the All-Star break.