Mets Drop Thrilling Game 2; Set To Return Home With Series Tied

Building on the momentum of their big Game 1 win in the series opener in Philadelphia, the New York Mets aimed to grab another victory and head home with a 2-0 series lead. Both teams traded leads and went punch for punch late in the game but Philadelphia would have the final blow with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth resulting in a 7-6 and tied series at one.

Luis Severino delivered a solid outing for the Mets, pitching six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and striking out seven across 91 pitches. His only slip-up came just before being pulled from the game when Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos hit back-to-back home runs to tie the score at three. The Phillies’ pitching staff then silenced the Mets’ bats with runners in scoring position, as New York went 0-for-7 in those situations and left seven men on base.

The Mets’ offense was firing on all cylinders earlier in the game, with home runs from Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and two from Mark Vientos. Vientos initially gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer, then came up clutch in the ninth, smashing a game-tying two-run shot to even the score at six. Francisco Lindor played a key role in setting up that tying blast, getting on base with a single ahead of Vientos’ heroics. Jose Butto came on in relief of Severino and handed the ball to Edwin Díaz after recording two outs in the seventh.

Díaz navigated through Butto’s jam in the seventh but faltered in the eighth, allowing three runs, with Bryson Stott’s triple putting the Phillies ahead 6-4. Tylor Megill entered the game in the eighth and navigated through that half-inning. Still, after walking Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, he left a hanging slider for Castellanos, who drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Overall, the Mets bullpen failed to hold off a surging Phillies offense, allowing four runs in the second half of the game.

Statistic of the Game: Mets Bullpen Falters Late

After Luis Severino left the game, the combination of Jose Butto, Edwin Diaz and Tylor Megill could not hold the Phillies off, as they combined to give up four hits, three walks, and four runs through 2 2/3 innings. Díaz was credited with a blown save.

Player of the Game: Mark Vientos

Despite the loss, Mark Vientos had a stellar afternoon, starting the scoring with a two-run homer to put the Mets ahead early 2-0, then tied the game with another two-run homer to tie the game at six. He went 3-for-4 on the day and continued his strong playoff start, a day after driving in a crucial run in game one.

On Deck

The Mets are off tomorrow but will return to action on Tuesday, as they play Game 3 at Citi Field. Aaron Nola starts on the mound for the Phillies, while Sean Manaea will toe the slab for New York. First pitch is at 5:08 pm ET and will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1, and locally on Mets Radio 880.

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