MIAMI -- In the end, after an unfathomable 3½-month descent that suggested they were more bottom feeder than World Series contender, the New York Mets ' assignment Sunday was simple: Beat the Miami Marlins and October baseball would follow.

The Mets, in fitting fashion for a frustrating season, 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 it 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 in the standings at 83-79

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