 The game was necessary after both teams finished the season with identical win – loss records of 96 – 66 . Some described the Mets as collapsing late in the season while the race between the Reds and their division rival Houston Astros was close enough to create the possibility of a three @-@ way tie . The Reds won a coin flip late in the season which , by rule at the time , awarded them home field for the game . Upon winning , the Mets advanced to NL Division Series ( NLDS ) where they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks , three @-@ games @-@ to @-@ one . They then advanced to the NL Championship Series ( NLCS ) but were defeated by the Atlanta Braves in six games , bringing an end to the Mets ' season . In baseball statistics , the tie @-@ breaker counted as the 163rd regular season game by both teams , with all events in the game added to regular season statistics . 
