MIAMI -- In the end, after an unfathomable three-and-a-half month descent that suggested they were more bottom feeder than World Series contender, the New York Mets ' assignment on Sunday was simple: Beat the Miami Marlins and October baseball would follow.

The Mets, in fitting fashion for a frustrating year, fumbled the opportunity, falling 4-0 at LoanDepot Park to crush their playoff hopes on the last day of the regular season.

With the Cincinnati Reds losing to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, a win would've sent the Mets backpedaling into the postseason but into the postseason nonetheless as the National League's third and final wild card club. They understood the assignment required to avoid a historic collapse.

It still didn't matter.

The Mets finished tied with the Reds

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