Reds top Mets, snap 14-game losing skid

Reds beat Mets for first time in 15 tries

The Reds ended New York’s domination in Cincinnati with an emphatic win and a feelgood moment — Joey Votto giving a bat and a jersey to a young cancer patient. The Mets then headed for flood-ravaged Houston and a day off to help out.

Scooter Gennett drove in three runs with a homer and a double off Jacob deGrom in a 7-2 victory Thursday that gave Cincinnati two of three in the series. Heading in, New York had won 14 straight games against Cincinnati, including eight in a row at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds finished August with a 15-14 mark, their first winning month since July of last year.

“That may seem like a small thing to most people, but it means a lot to us,” manager Bryan Price said.

Votto hit a solo shot in the seventh. After rounding the bases, Votto gave a bat and jersey to a 6-year-old boy he met at the ballpark last week through the MakeA-Wish Foundation. Walter Herbert sat next to the dugout and wore a blue shirt that said: “BE KIND.”

“We did not expect that,” Walter’s mom, Emily , said in an interview. “We thought he’d say hi when he recognized him. We were very surprised he went all out.”

Votto declined to talk about his gesture after the game. Told that the family was thrilled, Votto said, “Well, that’s what’s important.”

The Mets will help bring baseball back to Houston this weekend, playing a doubleheader on Saturday against the Astros. They’ll have Friday off, providing a chance to help recovery efforts for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“One of the things we talked about yesterday as a team: It’s not a publicity stunt,” manager Terry Collins said. “We don’t want any cameras. We just want to go and help out. The stuff that these guys are going to do and that I’m going to do is pretty much an individual thing. We’ll just see what we can do when we get there.”

Players are curious about what awaits.

“I’ve been through hurricanes before but nothing that severe, so I don’t know what to expect,” deGrom said.

JOHN MINCHILLO — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom reacts in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. deGrom was trying to win his 15th game.