CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) – Shin-Soo Choo drove in the winning run with a single off the wall in the 10th inning, and the Reds secured a playoff spot Monday night moments after beating the New York Mets 3-2.
Second-place Cincinnati clinched at least an NL wild card when Washington lost to first-place St. Louis 4-3 just a few minutes after the Reds’ game ended.
The Cardinals’ win allowed the Pirates to clinch the other wild card spot, their first playoff berth in 21 years, but the NL Central title is still up for grabs, with St. Louis holding onto a two-game lead with five games to play.
David Aardsma pitched out of a bases-loaded threat in the ninth, retiring Todd Frazier on a flyout. Greg Burke (0-3) gave up a one-out single by Devin Mesoraco in the 10th, and Derrick Robinson singled him to third.