Someway, a way, the New York Mets hold discovering methods to win within the postseason. On Saturday, they shocked the Philadelphia Phillies, coming behind to win Recreation 1 of the Nationwide League Division Sequence, 6-2.
Listed here are three takeaways from the motion.
Mets show they’re by no means useless with one other late-inning explosion
The Mets thrived on late-game theatrics once more on Saturday, stealing Recreation 1 from the Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park. After recording just one hit off starter Zack Wheeler over the primary seven innings, New York’s offense got here alive towards Philadelphia’s bullpen within the high of the eighth inning, turning a 1-0 deficit right into a four-run lead within the blink of an eye fixed.
The primary six batters of the eighth set the tone regardless of falling behind within the depend. Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Jose Iglesias mixed to document 4 hits, a stroll and a sacrifice fly for 3 RBI, opening the door for a five-run inning which primarily sealed the victory.
It is the fourth time this week that the Mets have come from behind to win a sport when trailing after the seventh inning. During the last two video games, New York has gone 10-of-20 on the plate, outscoring their opponents 10-1 within the eighth and ninth innings.
Gutsy collective effort on the mound benefited Mets
Making solely his second begin of the 2024 season and first since July 26, Mets starter Kodai Senga was serviceable by way of two innings. After permitting a lead-off home run to Kyle Schwarber, he responded by retiring six of the following seven batters he confronted earlier than giving approach to the bullpen.
David Peterson, Reed Garrett and Phil Maton have been integral to New York’s victory, shutting down the Phillies high-powered offense by way of the majority of the sport. Between the third and eighth innings, the trio mixed to strand six base runners, putting out 4 whereas working round three hits and three walks.
As was the case in Recreation 3 of their NL wild-card sequence towards the Brewers, when Jose Quintana picked them up (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER), a stable pitching efficiency for the Mets saved them alive lengthy sufficient for the offense to return round.
Bats and bullpen let Phillies down
Zack Wheeler threw a career-high 111 postseason pitches and was almost unhittable on Saturday, recording 30 swings-and-misses and 9 strikeouts whereas permitting just one hit over seven innings. The Cy Younger candidate’s outing was wasted, although, because of a lackluster offensive efficiency and a bullpen implosion by the Phillies.
Earlier than the eighth inning, Philadelphia had solely two hits, each belonging to Schwarber. The center of the order got here up small, with Trea Turner (0-of-4, 2 Ok), Bryce Harper (1-of-2, 2 BB, 1 Ok), Nick Castellanos (1-of-4, 2 Ok), and Alec Bohm (0-of-3, 1 BB, 1 Ok), struck out six instances, ending 2-of-13, with each hits coming after the Phillies had fallen behind 5-1.
The membership’s struggles on the plate may’ve been simply forgotten if Philly’s bullpen had held up its finish of the discount. Instantly after Wheeler left the sport, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering blew a 1-0 Phillies lead, permitting 5 runs off 4 hits and a stroll, utterly altering the tide of Recreation 1 and maybe the sequence.
