CINCINNATI -- Bartolo Colon got an early start on New Yorks trip to Cincinnati, and it paid off in a big way for the Mets.Colon pitched six innings of five-hit ball and Matt Reynolds homered to the lead the Mets to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.We had a man on the mound today, New York manager Terry Collins said. Nothing fazes him. Gave us what he always does, quality innings. Hes an amazing guy.Colon (13-7) improved to 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last seven starts. The Reds put a runner on third with nobody out on two occasions, and Colon wiggled out of the jam each time.Kelly Johnson also went deep as the Mets won for the sixth time in eight games. It was New Yorks 12th straight victory over Cincinnati.The Mets remained one game back of St. Louis for the second NL wild card after the Cardinals won 12-6 at sliding Pittsburgh.New York had a short turnaround after a 5-1 victory over Washington on Sunday night, arriving in Cincinnati early Monday morning. Four regulars -- outfielders Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes and infielders Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabera -- were out of the starting lineup.But the 43-year-old Colon got plenty of rest after traveling to Cincy on Sunday.Never had any pressure at all. I knew a lot of the veterans were getting a day off today, Colon said through a translator. Getting ahead of the hitters was key for me.Jay Bruce went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his first game in Cincinnati since the Reds traded him to the Mets on Aug. 1.It was a bit odd, coming over to the visiting side for the first time, Bruce said. Definitely odd being on the other side, but once the first pitch is thrown, its just baseball.Robert Stephenson, one of Cincinnatis top prospects, struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs and six hits, but fell short in his bid to become the first Cincinnati pitcher since Wayne Simpson in 1970 to win each of his first three major league starts.The 23-year-old Stephenson (2-1), who beat Philadelphia and Colorado in a pair of spot starts in April, said feels less pressure in the majors than he did in the minor leagues.Its just confidence, he said. Im not trying to get back to this level. Im already here. Now Im just trying to have fun.Reynolds, recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas before the game, hit his third homer of the season with one out in the third inning. He also had an RBI single in New Yorks three-run seventh and finished with three hits.Reynolds checked into the Mets Cincinnati hotel at 9:15 Monday morning after flying all night from Salt Lake City.Its everything I can ask for, Reynolds said. I just want to help the team win. It just happened I had a couple of big hits.Johnson led off the fifth with his 10th homer.The Mets have hit 18 home runs in their last 11 games at Great American Ball Park and 185 overall this season for their best total since the 2006 team set the franchise record with 200.GRACIOUS HOSTSThe Reds honored Bruce and his wife, Hannah, in a pregame ceremony for his contributions to the team on the field and the couples work in the community during his nearly nine seasons with Cincinnati.AMBITIOUSNew Yorks Wilmer Flores was thrown out by left fielder Adam Duvall trying to stretch hits in each of his first two at bats, at second in the first inning and at third in the fourth. Duvall is the first Cincinnati outfielder with two assists in one game since Bruce on Aug. 5, 2014, at Cleveland, according to the Reds.DOUBLE TROUBLEAfter tying their season high by hitting into four double plays in a 5-2 loss to St. Louis on Sunday, the Reds hit into double plays in each of the first two innings on Monday against the Mets.TRAINERS ROOMReds: 2B Brandon Phillips returned to the starting lineup after being scratched each of the previous two days with a sore left foot.UP NEXTMets RHP Rafael Montero (0-0) and Reds LHP Brandon Finnegan (8-10) are scheduled to start on Tuesday. Finnegan has limited opposing batters to a .132 average (9 for 68) over his last three starts. Custom Boston Red Sox Jerseys .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Boston Red Sox Store . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. https://www.cheapredsox.com/ . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Rafael Devers Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Marcus Walden Red Sox Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.BOSTON -- Patrick Kane already has one Stanley Cup-winning goal from 2010 along with the one that put the Chicago Blackhawks back into the finals this year. Can he imagine a second NHL title-clincher? "I think the stars would have to be aligned right for it to happen like that again," Kane said Sunday, a day before the Blackhawks will take the ice in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final with a chance to win their second championship in four seasons. "I think the biggest thing is trying to help contribute any way I can, help this team get a win, especially the situation were in," said Kane, who scored the winner in Game 6 against Philadelphia in the 10 finals, and the one that eliminated the Los Angeles Kings in this years Western Conference finals. "Ill do whatever I can to help the team win, and it would be a great feeling." The Blackhawks will take a 3-2 lead into Game 6 against the Boston Bruins on Monday night, and Kane is a big reason why. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft had two goals in Chicagos 3-1 victory in Game 5, giving him seven goals in his last seven games, including two winners. "Thats the type of player he is," Blackhawks defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson said. "When it comes down to the wire and tight games, big games, thats when he wants the puck. Thats when he wants to score the goals, the big goals. &qquot;Its huge to have those kind of players in your team when you go far in the playoffs.dddddddddddd And now when its really coming down to the wire here, (it) gives the whole group confidence that you have players like that. Its not a coincidence that he has a lot of big goals so far in his career." Actually, Kane has a lot of small goals, too. In addition to the nine times hes scored in 22 playoff games this post-season, Kane led the Blackhawks in scoring in the lockout-shortened regular season with 55 points in 48 games -- including 23 goals that tied for the team lead. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville split Kane and Jonathan Toews at the start of the finals so that Bruins counterpart Claude Julien wouldnt be able to match defenceman Zdeno Chara with both of the Blackhawks top forwards. But they responded with no goals in the first three games, and Quenneville put them back together for Game 4. Since then, they have combined for four goals and seven points. Kanes 19 points in the playoffs lead Chicago and are second in the NHL; he also led the Blackhawks with eight points in the six-game victory over Philadelphia in the 2010 finals. "Its like we always say: I dont care who scores for us; I dont care whos on the ice for them," Quenneville said. "We expect somebody has got to score for us, and were not choosy in that department." ' ' '