Mets 6-2 Phillies (Oct. 5, 2024) Game Recap

PHILADELPHIA – Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo engineered another late New York comeback, helping the Mets break through for five runs in the eighth inning against two All-Star relievers as they edged past the Philadelphia 6-2 in Saturday’s game Phillies advanced through 1 of their National League Division Series.

“That immediately puts pressure on the other side,” Nimmo said.

The Mets were slowed by Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who fell to a 1-0 deficit after seven innings with just one hit.

With Wheeler gone after nine strikeouts and a mind-boggling 30 swings-and-misses over 111 pitches, the Mets – whose tumultuous week included a win in a makeup doubleheader in Atlanta to clinch a postseason berth and three games in the To secure the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee – pounced on inferior pitcher Jeff Hoffman and fellow reliever Matt Strahm in the eighth.

In true New York fashion, the Mets had to bounce back this October, not just on the scoreboard but with a gut check on every critical hit.

Francisco Alvarez hit a leadoff single against Hoffman before three straight batters reached base after 0-2 counts. Francisco Lindor drew a walk and Vientos followed with a matching single. Nimmo blasted a go-ahead single from Strahm past a drawn infield for a 2-1 lead.

Pinch-hitter JD Martinez added an RBI single, and Pete Alonso, who hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning of the series-clinching game in Milwaukee, and Starling Marte each added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for a 5- 1 lead that sent the Mets into a frenzy in the dugout.

Nimmo added an RBI single in the ninth. All eight of New York’s hits – seven in the final two innings – were singles.

After the final performance, New York fans crowded into the rows behind their dugout and chanted “Let’s Go Mets!” Let’s go, Mets!”

Leave it to the Mets to win this game late – they’ve scored 18 runs in the eighth and ninth innings in six games since Monday. New York joined the 1980 Phillies and 1999 Mets as the only teams to win consecutive playoff games after trailing in the eighth inning or later.

“One of the things we talked about is finishing the game by the ninth inning,” Vientos said. “And the game is only over on matchday nine. We kind of ran with that mentality, I feel like we did in Atlanta last week. We kind of showed that in the last game in Milwaukee and it gives us more confidence.”

The Phillies were reeling heading into Sunday’s second game after missing Wheeler’s big performance.

Citizens Bank Park, once home to Red October, has turned into a nightmare over the last two seasons. The Phillies had a 3-2 series lead in the NLCS last season but lost Games 6 and 7 at home to Arizona.

Kyle Schwarber hit Kodai Senga’s third pitch into the second deck in right field, increasing his playoff record for leadoff home runs to five.

At 425 feet, the homer — a swarm bomb, as his homers are affectionately known in Philly — came about as far as the rest of the hits, combined with an anemic offense.

Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and the rest of a home run-happy offense failed against Senga and four Mets relievers.

Senga was a surprise starter for New York after throwing just 5 1/3 major league innings all season due to shoulder and calf injuries. In his second start of the year, he lasted two innings and threw 31 pitches. The right-hander struck out three and walked one; Schwarber’s home run was the only hit he allowed.

David Peterson, who earned his first career save in the Wild Card Series decisive game against Milwaukee, kept the Mets in the game with three innings of shutout relief. Reed Garrett pitched two perfect innings in the win.

“Our bullpen, I don’t know if they’ve gotten enough credit the last few games,” Nimmo said. “We wouldn’t be in this situation if big old Peterson didn’t come along and do his thing. Incredible. He just finished the game in Milwaukee and is coming in to throw several innings for us. Something he was never asked to do. He just comes in and does it perfectly.”

The Mets were ecstatic to have the day off after a wild week that included a doubleheader on Monday in Atlanta and then three pressure-packed games in Milwaukee.

“It was urgently needed,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Intense games, the travel, the back and forth, doubleheaders, partying and just everything we went through. So it was really good to be able to come here and kind of have a reset day for everyone.”

The reset came from — no, not a playoff pumpkin — but from a pitching staff that struck out eight players and silenced Phillies fans wearing their red rally towels from the moment they saw them at the gate caught helicopter rotor blades turning.

“We have to do little things and big things will happen; Moving runners, getting on base,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We had nine or 10 baserunners. That won’t score many runs.”

NEXT

The Mets send RHP Luis Severino to the mound in Game 2. He won Game 1 of the Wild Card Series in Milwaukee. Severino allowed eight hits and four runs — three earned — in six innings.

The Phillies have All-Star and new dad Cristopher Sánchez on the mound for Game 2.

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