Neil Miller/TheNYExtra.com
Just about 4 months ago, the Mets were 11 games under 500 and tomorrow they wake up one win away from the NLCS as they beat the Phils 7-2 to go up 2 games to 1 in this best of 5 division series. And this game highlighted the 2 main reasons why this team turned it around: tremendous starting pitching coupled with an offense that percolates every night.
First the pitching—Sean Manea has carved out a great season becoming ace-like in every way. On this night, he threw seven innings of one-run ball keeping this potent Phillies lineup dormant with an assortment of amazing pitches. And the offense got off to a good start getting early homers from both Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker for a 2-0 lead.
And then the Mets carved out two more of those innings where batter after batter is both not afraid to draw a walk passing the baton and knowing they are the masters of the two-out hits. Both Starling Marte and Jose Iglesias got 2 out hits that drove in 2 runs putting this game away for good. And that is the signature of this team—long innings with a plethora of runners on base that forces opposing managers to go through their bullpen like a drunken sailor spends money.
And that happened on this night as the Phils used so many relievers—even their closer—making tomorrow challenging for the Phils on a possible elimination night. Meanwhile, the Mets were able to give Edwin Diaz a second straight off day making him available with a longer than 3 out save should the team have a chance to send the Phils home for the winter.
And it also gives this team a shot to get the first clincher ever at CitiField on Wednesday night. That would be a great gift for a Met fan base that has waited so long for it–15 years to be precise since this home park opened in 2009.
And all in a year that started out 0-5 and two months later 22-33 before OMG began to filter into a Met clubhouse that defines the word “team” every time they take the field.
