CINCINNATI — Zack Wheeler still has to figure out how to make it easier.
The Mets’ right-hander has largely performed at a high level this season, but as was the case Sunday, often doesn’t produce enough clean innings to work deep into games.
At a time the Mets front office is scrutinizing pitch counts, and more specifically manager Terry Collins’ penchant for letting the young pitchers work past 110, Wheeler’s labors are an issue.
But the Mets will take the results. On Sunday, he allowed only one run over six innings to help the Mets beat the Reds 4-3 and escape Great American Ball Park with two victories in three games.
Wheeler (10-9) allowed five hits, walked two and hit two batters and was removed after the sixth, at 99 pitches.
Wheeler has thrown 170 ¹/₃ innings in 2014. Last year, he pitched 168 ²/₃ innings, split between Triple-A Las Vegas and the Mets.
“I feel fine body-wise,” Wheeler said. “Who could ask for anything more, I guess.”
The Mets have tried to adhere to a 110-pitch limit, especially for Wheeler and Jacob deGrom, but that can be relaxed, as long as the pitcher doesn’t surpass 330 pitches over a three-start stretch.
Wheeler had a 335-pitch stretch over three starts late last month that, according to a team source, raised some eyebrows in the front office.
Over his last three starts, Wheeler has thrown 325 pitches.
“We’ve [reduced] the pitch counts — that has to do with how many innings are out there,” Collins said. “But Zack’s last outing [in Miami] we didn’t exactly play real good behind him, so his pitch count got up higher than we wanted it to at that particular stage. But there are certain times they deserve the chance to get through an inning once in a while.”
Wheeler had “plus” stuff Sunday, according to Collins, but then started getting in trouble with counts, beginning in the fourth.
“We’re trying to keep a close eye on him,” Collins said. “We’ve got to finish the season with this guy healthy. He’s shown way too much promise here and we cannot go into [next] season with a sore shoulder or sore elbow.”
Curtis Granderson’s second homer in three games, a solo blast in the eighth, gave the bullpen breathing room. All told, Carlos Torres and Jeurys Familia pitched two scoreless innings before Jenrry Mejia surrendered two runs in the ninth. Mejia struck out Devin Mesoraco with the bases loaded to end the game, after the Reds had won a replay challenge at first base on Todd Frazier’s infield dribbler to extend the inning.
Anthony Recker’s two-run homer against Mat Latos gave the Mets a 3-1 lead in the sixth and highlighted an inning in which the Mets scored three unearned runs.
Wilmer Flores’ fly ball to center was dropped by Billy Hamilton before Granderson singled and, with two outs, Recker cleared the left-field fence. The homer was Recker’s third in his last five starts, dating to Aug. 11.
Skip Schumaker’s RBI single in the fifth gave the Reds a 1-0 lead, after Wheeler failed to retire Latos, who singled, with two outs.
Wheeler loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth, but escaped unscathed after getting Brandon Phillips to hit into a 1-2-3 double play before Jay Bruce was retired.
The Reds had two runners on base in the second, but Jack Hannahan hit into an inning-ending double play.