CINCINNATI, Ohio -- No champagne. Mikkel Boedker Jersey . No curtain call in front of joyous fans. No celebrating at all, really. The Cincinnati Reds clinched a playoff spot with hardly any notice. If anything, they were a little bummed out. Shin-Soo Choo drove in the winning run with a single off the wall in the 10th inning, and the Reds secured their third playoff spot in four years shortly after beating the New York Mets 3-2 on Monday night. They want a whole lot more than the wild card thats already in hand. "Were excited, obviously," shortstop Zack Cozart said, looking over a clubhouse where the only visible celebration was the image of Pittsburgh Pirates spraying each other on television. "Thats not our goal. Were in the division hunt. Were not happy with a wild card." The Reds clinched theirs after Choos drive smacked high off the wall in left-centre field. Eight minutes later, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-3, clinching an NL wild card for Pittsburgh. Bummer. The Reds were pulling for first-place St. Louis to lose. Instead, the Cardinals retained their two-game lead over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the NL Central. "I was pulling for the Nationals to win, get a step closer to the Cardinals," manager Dusty Baker said. "Weve still got five games to go. A lot of baseball." The Reds kept pace with St. Louis despite squandering plenty of chances to end it early. They wasted a chance in the ninth, when David Aardsma pitched out of a bases-loaded threat by retiring Todd Frazier on a fly out. Greg Burke (0-3) gave up a one-out single to Devin Mesoraco in the 10th, and Derrick Robinson singled him to third. Choo followed with his third hit of the game, off left-hander Sean Henn, a drive high off the wall in left-centre. Choo headed for the dugout after crossing first base. Manny Parra (2-3) allowed one hit in the 10th. It was a notable win for the Reds -- their 90th of the season, the third time in the last four years that they have reached the mark under Baker. They havent had so many 90-win seasons since the Big Red Machine of the 1970s. Johnny Cueto made a second solid start since coming off the disabled list, an encouraging sign for Cincinnatis post-season plans. The right-hander has been sidelined three times by soreness near his shoulder. He gave up two runs -- one earned -- on Lucas Dudas sacrifice fly and solo homer, which snapped an 0-for-17 slump. In two starts, Cueto has allowed eight hits and one earned run in 12 innings. Cuetos 99-pitch outing was the most encouraging part of the night for the Reds, who could have their ace back for the playoffs. "He was excellent," Baker said. "Hes getting ready. Each time he goes out, he gets his endurance up." The Reds got two runs in six innings off Aaron Harang, who made his third start for the Mets. Choo singled home a run in the second and Joey Votto got one of his career-high five walks with the bases loaded. Harang is 3-0 in four career starts against the Reds, including a 4-2 victory with Seattle on July 5 at Great American Ball Park. The Mariners later released him with a 5-11 record. The Reds sustained their hopes of another division title by winning another long game -- they are 13-9 in extra innings. Last September, Baker was in a Chicago hospital getting treated for an irregular heartbeat and a mini-stroke when the Reds clinched the NL Central title. They made a video of their spray-away celebration and wished for another when he returned. It didnt happy. Cueto had to leave the opening game of the playoffs at San Francisco after only eight pitches because of a strained muscle in his right side. With their rotation in flux, the Reds lost the five-game series. This season, the Reds have stayed in contention despite losing Cueto, setup relievers Sean Marshall and Jonathan Broxton, and cleanup hitter Ryan Ludwick for most of the season. Ludwick tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding into a base on opening day and was out for more than three months. They were six games out on Aug. 9, in danger of falling out of the divisions three-team race. They regrouped and have taken the race down to the final week by winning 12 of their last 17. NOTES: New Yorks David Wright had his hitting streak ended at eight games. ... Billy Hamilton got in as a pinch-runner in the eighth and stole second, leaving him 13 for 13 in attempts. The Mets called for a pitchout but Frank Francisco threw it over the plate. ... Votto has walked 132 times this season, tying Joe Morgans club record from 1975. The five walks also tied a club record. ... RHP Mike Leake (14-6) starts for the Reds on Tuesday against LHP Jonathon Niese (7-8). Clayton Keller Jersey . Listen to the Raptors vs. Jazz live tonight on TSN Radio 1050 at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Raptors are 1-1 so far on the five-game junket after defeating Denver and losing to Portland. Christian Fischer Jersey . The New York Rangers centre had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators ending a 13-game goal-scoring drought.PARIS -- France will look to teen centre Gael Fickou to provide the creative spark against an Ireland team desperate to give Brian ODriscoll a perfect send-off in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, with both teams still in contention to win the tournament. After several substitute appearances, the 19-year-old Fickou makes his first start of the campaign as one of four changes to face an Irish team full of attacking menace after scoring 13 tries so far. The midfield contest between Fickou and the 35-year-old ODriscoll promises to be an intriguing one between the worlds most capped player and one looking to become a future great. "The speed and youth of Gael Fickou gives us some interesting options. Hes in form and we need to see him express his talent," France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said. "It will be a real challenge for him and Mathieu Bastareaud against a good pair of centres. But we believe in him. Hes settled in our squad now and is feeling good both mentally and physically." Fickou, who scored a dramatic late winning try in the 26-24 win over England, replaces Maxime Mermoz, ineffective in last weekends 19-17 win at Scotland, while the other change in the backs sees flyhalf Remi Tales replacing Jules Plisson. France, Ireland and England -- which plays in Italy -- have six points each and can all still win the tournament. Ireland has by far the best points differential (+81) of the three title contenders, while France has the worst (+3) behind England (+32). France has to beat Ireland and hope England draws or loses in Rome to stand a realistic chance of winning the trophy. "We will try and put in a great performance, and if we manage to please our fans it will be a bonus," Saint-Andre said. "Were preparing ourselves for a match of the highest level after drawing the last two seasons against them." History counts against Ireland in Paris, where they havent won since 2000, but they have an extra incentive this time. ODriscoll makes his 141st test appearance in a brilliant 15-year career on the same ground where he scored a hat trick of tries in 2000 to give Ireland its first victory in Paris since 1972. "We dont want to make it ODriscolls party," Saint-Andre said. Fourteen years ago, a fresh-faced ODriscoll burst onto the international scene with three expertly-taken tries in Irelands 27-25 win, his blend of speed, flair, safe hands and attacking instinct marking him out as one of the players for the future. Arizona Coyotes Pro Shop. Fickou now finds himself in a similar position and is earmarked as a future great. Last weekend, ODriscoll pushed back the years with one of his best performances in the green jersey of Ireland. Although he did not add to his 46 international tries, he played a part in three of his teams first four tries in a crushing 46-7 win over Italy at Lansdowne Road. "Hes a great player, and hes been a great servant to Irish rugby and to world rugby. When he arrived on the scene at Stade de France, he was an unknown and he scored three tries," Saint-Andre said. "He could have been French because he had incredible flair, a capacity to keep the ball alive, to make a pass after contact. He captained the British Lions, he captained Ireland and hes brought so much to world rugby." Tales will line up alongside scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud in the 12th halves pairing Saint-Andre has selected since taking over from Marc Lievremont after France lost the 2011 World Cup final to New Zealand. Saint-Andre was disappointed with Plissons defending against Scotland. "Plissons statistics in defence were not good enough," Saint-Andre said. The two changes in the forwards see Dimitri Szarzewski returning from injury to replace Brice Mach and Louis Picamoles reinstated at flanker in place of Sebastien Vahaamahina. France won its opening two matches of the tournament but then lost 27-6 at Wales before edging past Scotland in another error-strewn performance lacking in creativity. "If I have to take the blame for it then so be it, but leave my players out of it," Saint-Andre said. France was previously dominant in the scrum but has struggled to get to grips with rule changes and has also been ineffective in the lineouts. "The problem rests with us, we have to concentrate on our throws and our jumps," No. 8 Damien Chouly said. "We must be more demanding of ourselves and each other." Saint-Andre said that Picamoles and Chouly will switch positions during the match. ------ France: Brice Dulin, Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Maxime Medard, Remi Tales, Maxime Machenaud; Damien Chouly, Alexandre Lapandry, Louis Picamoles, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape (captain), Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Thomas Domingo. Reserves: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Jean-Marc Doussain, Maxime Mermoz. ' ' '
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