Mets End Reds' Season 3-0

Wednesday's finale saw the Reds notch only two hits off journeyman pitcher Miguel Batista, who went the distance in the Reds' 3-0 loss to the Mets.

"I heard he's 40 years old. For him to throw nine innings on the last day of the season, my hat's off to him," said Joey Votto, who drew one of Batista's two walks. "Very impressive."

One year after winning 91 games and winning the National League Central, the Reds finished 79-83 and in a distant third place.

"It's really not the season that we wanted," manager Dusty Baker said.

One of the shortcomings this season was the step backward taken by Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez, who struggled mightily much of the year. Given the ball for the finale, Volquez took the loss, but at least he went out with a strong performance.

Volquez tied a season high with seven innings pitched, allowing three earned runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

"I think it was a pretty good game today," Volquez said. "I felt like I could pitch in the eighth, but we were trying to make a rally. [I threw] a lot of strikes today. I was able to throw all my breaking balls for strikes, too."

In a bit of a controversial moment, Volquez gave up a leadoff bunt single to Jose Reyes to start his afternoon. But Reyes, who is competing for the batting title with Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, promptly exited the game for a pinch-runner amid boos in what could have been his final game with the Mets.

But the infield hit did not burn Volquez, who retired the next 10 batters.

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