NEW YORK — The Mets lowered the temperature ever-so-slightly heading into their final series of the season in Miami.

In desperate need of a victory with the Reds breathing down their necks, the Mets bats exploded off Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga to notch a 8-5 victory in the teams' series finale on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.

One night after a disjointed effort, with clumsy defense, incomplete hitting and lackluster pitching amounting to a seven-run loss, the Mets played one of their more complete offensive games games in September.

They battered Imanaga for eight runs on nine hits and a cushion that was enough to sustain them down the stretch and keep their one game of wiggle room over the Reds in the NL Wild Card race.

The Mets used the fine print within Major League Baseball's rule

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