CINCINNATI — Michael Conforto homered to cap a four-run first inning, and the Mets gave their faint playoff hopes a boost with a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

“I knew it was gone,” he said. “I just ran the bases. It felt good to put us up big in the first inning. I knew we would add on a couple.”

J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo also connected for the Mets, who remained four and a half games behind Milwaukee for the second National League wild-card berth after the Brewers held off the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.

Mets starter Marcus Stroman, battling a bout of nausea, walked the bases loaded with two outs and a 4-2 lead in the fifth.