MLB

Mets top Reds behind Niese’s scrappy outing

CINCINNATI — If Jon Niese’s season ended Tuesday, it was on the high of scrapping for a win on a night the playoff-bound Reds threatened to bury him early.

The Mets lefty surrendered five hits over the first two innings Tuesday night, but recovered to lead a 4-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.

Though Niese (8-8) is aligned to pitch the season finale on Sunday against the Brewers at Citi Field, manager Terry Collins will wait a day or two before making the call based on how Niese is feeling.

“I’d like to think I have a say in it,” Niese said after allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk over seven innings. “That’s my turn in the rotation and we’ll see how I feel.”

Any shutdown would be precautionary, similar to the decision the Mets made last week to end Zack Wheeler’s season after the right-hander incurred shoulder stiffness.

The Mets could take a similarly cautious route with Niese, who earlier this season spent 1 ¹/₂ months sidelined with a partially torn rotator cuff.

“Ever since he’s come back he’s thrown the ball as good as I’ve seen Jon Niese throw it,” Collins said. “And he’s pitched some great baseball games. His command, his pace, his velocity is up and I think it’s all due to when he was down he worked his butt off to strengthen his shoulder.”

Daniel Murphy’s three-run homer against Mike Leake (14-7) was the Mets’ big hit during a second inning in which they scored four runs.

Vic Black pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first major league save. The rookie fireballer said the moment was doubly sweet because he’s never liked the Reds.

“Just growing up, my uncle, he wasn’t a fan, so I guess it bled over,” Black said.

Black, who arrived last month as part of the trade that sent Marlon Byrd and John Buck to the Pirates, has made a fast impression on Collins. The Mets have been without closer Bobby Parnell, who recently underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck, for nearly two months.

“We’re going into next year and I’m hoping and praying that Bobby Parnell comes back 100 percent,” Collins said. “But when he left, I’m worried and we’ve got to find somebody that can certainly pick that role up.

“The first time I saw Vic Black and the way he threw the ball and the conversations I’ve had with him and the way I’ve seen him handle himself, I said, ‘If Bobby’s not 100 percent we’ve got a guy that can step up and do that.’ Because this guy has got the stuff to do that.”

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Mat Latos will start for the Reds in Wednesday’s series finale instead of Greg Reynolds.