NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter Ike Davis hit a game-ending grand slam and the New York Mets were aided by a favorable ninth-inning replay review in rallying to beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Saturday.
Brandon Phillips had given the Reds a 3-2 lead with a two-run homer off Dillon Gee in the eighth, two innings after Curtis Granderson connected for a two-run drive off Johnny Cueto, his first homer with the Mets.
Trailing by a run in the ninth, Juan Lagares walked leading off against fill-in closer J.J. Hoover.
Anthony Recker bunted and first baseman Joey Votto threw to second base for the force play. Second base umpire James Hoye called Lagares out and Mets manager Terry Collins raced out of the dugout to ask for a challenge. After a review of 2 minutes, 15 seconds, the call was overturned by crew chief John Hirschbeck.
Hoover (1-1), pitching the ninth for Aroldis Chapman who is out after being hit in the face by a line drive during spring training, then walked Ruben Tejada to load the bases.
Davis, having lost his starting first base job to Lucas Duda a day earlier, was called on to hit in the pitcher’s spot and lined a 0-1 pitch to right field, setting off a gleeful celebration at Citi Field.
The Mets won their second straight after being swept by Washington in three games to open the season. Cincinnati dropped to 1-4 for the first time since 2003, when it finished 69-93.
Carlos Torres (1-0) pitched the ninth for the Mets.
In a blustery wind with gusts up to 35 mph that sent papers swirling around Citi Field, Cueto and Gee were dominant early against two of the league’s worst hitting teams thus far.
Cueto didn’t allow a hit until Tejada doubled with one out in the fifth inning and Gee was perfect until Tucker Barnhart, subbing for injured catcher Devin Mesoraco (oblique strain), lined his first big league hit to right field with one out in the third inning.
Cueto was hurt by the long ball for his second straight start, but this time his offense backed his effort. On opening day, he gave up a homer to St. Louis’ Yadier Molina in the seventh inning of 1-0 loss.
Against New York, he gave up five hits and two runs, lifting any lingering worry about his health after he made only 11 starts last season. He struck out nine and walked three - one intentionally.
Gee allowed six hits, one to Cueto, and walked one. He struck out four. He was also sharp on opening day, making that start because Jonathon Niese had elbow inflammation during spring training and was on the disabled list. Niese is scheduled to make his first start Sunday in the series finale.
Gee received a visit on the mound after Roger Bernadina sacrificed Chris Heisey to third in the eighth inning.
Phillips, who was 0 for 3 before homering on a 1-0 count with one out in the eighth, has a hit in all 28 games he has played against the Mets in New York.
Daniel Murphy singled to lead off the sixth and David Wright followed with a fielder’s choice before Granderson, who signed a $60 million, four-year contract this winter after four years with the crosstown-rival Yankees, connected to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton was scratched from the lineup because of a jammed left middle finger. He was injured sliding head-first into second base Friday night when he was caught stealing. … Mets top prospect Noah Syndergaard made his Triple-A Las Vegas debut Friday night and allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one. … Up next: Reds RHP Alfredo Simon is scheduled to make his first start of the season Sunday against Niese.
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