Mets Beat Phillies 7-2; One Win From NLCS

The Mets returned home for Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday evening and secured a crucial win over the Phillies, moving to a 2-1 lead in the series with a 7-2 victory. Tomorrow, the club will look to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2015.

The triumph was backed by clutch hitting from the Mets’ offense, which notched nine hits in the win, including two home runs. The team capitalized on opportunities with two outs, rallying to score six of their seven runs with their backs against the wall. The Mets have scored 13 runs off the Phillies bullpen in just three games.

Sean Manaea was dominant on the mound, tossing seven innings and allowing just two hits with six strikeouts. He cruised through his entire outing and faced his only trouble in the sixth, with two on and no outs, but escaped by striking out Bryce Harper and inducing a double play from Nick Castellanos. He exited to a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd at Citi Field in the eighth after allowing a leadoff single.

The Mets struck first with a Pete Alonso solo homer in the second, and Jesse Winker added another solo shot in the fourth. Winker’s homer was the Mets’ 87th postseason home run, and the first ever by a DH.

In the sixth, Mark Vientos led off with a single, and Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso drew a pair of walks to load the bases and push Phillies’ starter Aaron Nola from the game. Starling Marte then delivered a two-run base knock to make it 4-0.

New York continued to pester the Phillies in the seventh, adding two more runs. Vientos hit a two-out single, pinch-runner Harrison Bader stole second, and after Nimmo and Alonso both drew walks again, Jose Iglesias drove in two runs with a single, extending the lead to 6-0. Alonso was tagged out at home to end the inning.

In the eighth, J.D. Martinez drew a leadoff walk, and Tyrone Taylor reached on a fielder’s choice, with an error that allowed Martinez to advance to second. Francisco Lindor subsequently knocked a two-out double to make it 7-2.

Philadelphia managed two runs in the eighth, with Bryce Harper driving in a runner inherited by Phil Maton on an RBI single, and Nick Castellanos following with another. Ryne Stanek entered to get the final out in the eighth and tossed a perfect ninth to close out the game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Sean Manaea earns Tuesday’s honor after seven innings that helped propel the team to the win. Manaea has been outstanding this year.

Manaea has thrown 193.2 innings so far this year, and he’s allowed just three runs in 12 postseason innings. He’s been a leader on the pitching staff and in the clubhouse. 

ON DECK

Jose Quintana (12-6, 3.46 ERA) will get the start for New York tomorrow. In his last outing, he threw 94 pitches over six shutout innings, allowing just four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Quintana has been especially impressive in the latter part of the year, boasting an 0.64 ERA with 34 strikeouts over a seven-game stretch since August 25, including the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card. 

Philadelphia’s starter will be Ranger Suarez. In his last start during the regular season, he allowed six runs on seven hits over just two innings of work. He has struggled with his command as of late. Through September, he owned a 6.04 ERA, allowing 15 runs through 22 and ⅓ innings with 12 walks and 17 strikeouts. 

The game will start at 5:08 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

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